Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei delivered a breathtaking performance at the 2025 Barcelona Half Marathon on Sunday, smashing her lifetime best to claim victory in an electrifying showdown on the streets of the Catalan capital.
Jepkosgei stormed to the title in a remarkable 1:04.11, slicing a massive 18 seconds off her previous best to underline her dominance.
The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) ace executed a perfectly timed race, controlling the pace from start to finish and even outpacing several male competitors in a stunning display of endurance and tactical nous.
Her triumph led a Kenyan one-two as compatriot Gladys Chepkirui followed in second place, while Ethiopia’s Alemtsehay Bimr Zerihun settled for third. Chepkirui, who finished third in last year’s edition, improved her performance with a 1:06.25 finish, while Zerihun clocked 1:08.19.
Speaking after her emphatic win, an ecstatic Jepkosgei paid tribute to the fans who lined the streets to support the runners.
“I am so excited to be the winner today with my personal best and the course record,” she said. “The support from the people of Barcelona was incredible—I love all of you!”
Jepkosgei’s win comes hot on the heels of her impressive fourth-place finish at the Athletics Kenya (AK) National Cross Country Championships in Eldoret less than two weeks ago. The 32-year-old will now take a brief rest before ramping up preparations for her next major challenge—the prestigious London Marathon in April.
A former London Marathon champion, having claimed the 2021 title, Jepkosgei will face a star-studded lineup in this year’s edition. Among her fiercest rivals will be reigning Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, and 2022 London Marathon winner Peres Jepchirchir. Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, Megertu Alemu, and Haven Hailu Desse are also set to make the competition one of the most fiercely contested in recent memory.
With over seven runners boasting personal bests under 2:20.00, the stage is set for a thrilling showdown when the world’s elite marathoners descend on the streets of London on Sunday, April 27.
