Lisbon Half Marathon

Summary

EDP Lisbon Half Marathon is an annual international half marathon competition which is contested every March in Lisbon, Portugal. It carries IAAF Gold Label Road Race status.[1] The men's course record of 57:31 was set by Jacob Kiplimo in 2021, which is the current world record for the half marathon distance.[2] Kenyan runners have been very successful in the competition, accounting for over half of the total winners, with Tegla Loroupe taking the honours in the women's race on six separate occasions.[3] The Lisbon Half Marathon is not to be confused with Luso Portugal Half Marathon, another prominent half marathon race which is also held in Lisbon in October.

Lisbon Half Marathon
The mass race begins by crossing the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge
Datelate November (2021)
LocationLisbon, Portugal
Event typeRoad
DistanceHalf marathon
Primary sponsorEDP
Established1991
Course recordsMen's: 57:31 (2021)
Uganda Jacob Kiplimo
Women's: 1:05:30 (2024)
Ethiopia Almaz Ayana
Official siteLisbon Half Marathon
Participants7793 finishers (2022)
5,424 finishers (2021)
15,692 (2019)

History edit

 
 
The course passes the Jerónimos Monastery (left) and the Belém Tower

First held in 1991, the race has consistently delivered fast winning times. However, many of these times have been unratifiable for record purposes due to factors including: the course being too short (1991–93), excessive tailwinds, as well as there being an excessive drop in altitude, which boosted athletes' performances (1996, 1998, 2000–01, 2004, and 2006).[3][4]

The course was judged as non-permissible for records until 2008, in which year the organisers changed the elite course to allow for records. The new course begins at sea level on the north side of the river Tagus, a change which made the course entirely flat. The course for the mass participation race, which has attracted almost 30,000 runners in previous years, remained unchanged and begins by crossing the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge before linking up with the new elite course.[5][6]

The current elite course of the half marathon begins in a small town on the north bank of the Tagus, no longer crossing the bridge,[7] and the course is wide and flat from there on. Heading eastwards towards the city centre, the course passes the docks and traces a route alongside much of the city's historical architecture, including the Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery.[6]

From 2008 onwards, the organisers set aside a €50,000 prize pot for any athlete breaking the world record over the half marathon distance. This led to the participation of a number of prominent athletes, with marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie winning the 2008 edition, while Charles Kamathi and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot followed behind.[8] Another strong field was assembled in 2010 and Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea broke both the 20 kilometres and half marathon world records in his winning run.[2]

The competition also hosts a mini marathon race, which has featured many prominent Portuguese citizens, including the former President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio, and José Socrates, the Portuguese Prime Minister.[4] Energias de Portugal has sponsored the competition for a number of years.[8][4]

The 2020 edition of the race was first postponed to 2020.09.06, and then to 2021.05.09, due to the coronavirus pandemic.[9][10]

Winners edit

 
Zersenay Tadese broke the world record in 2010.
 
Kara Goucher won the women's race in 2009.[11]

Key:   Course record   Short or assisted course

Year Men's winner Nationality Time
000(h:m:s)
Women's winner Nationality Time
000(h:m:s)
2024 Dinkalem Ayele   Ethiopia 1:00:36 Brigid Kosgei   Kenya 1:05:51
2023 Nibret Melak   Ethiopia 59:06 Almaz Ayana   Ethiopia 1:05:30
2022 Kenneth Renju   Kenya 1:00:13 Tsehay Gemechu   Ethiopia 1:06:44
2021 Jacob Kiplimo   Uganda 57:31 WR Tsehay Gemechu   Ethiopia 1:06:06
2020 postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal[10]
2019 Mosinet Geremew   Ethiopia 59:37 Vivian Cheruiyot   Kenya 1:06:34
2018 Eric Kiptanui   Kenya 1:00:05 Etagegn Woldu   Ethiopia 1:11:27
2017 Jake Robertson   New Zealand 1:00:01 Mare Dibaba   Ethiopia 1:09:43
2016 Sammy Kitwara   Kenya 59:47 Ruti Aga   Ethiopia 1:09:16
2015 Mo Farah   United Kingdom 59:32 Rose Chelimo   Kenya 1:08:22
2014 Bedan Karoki   Kenya 59:58 Worknesh Degefa   Ethiopia 1:08:46
2013 Bernard Koech   Kenya 59:54 Edna Kiplagat   Kenya 1:08:48
2012 Zersenay Tadese   Eritrea 59:34 Shalane Flanagan   United States 1:08:52
2011 Zersenay Tadese   Eritrea 58:30 Aberu Kebede   Ethiopia 1:08:28
2010 Zersenay Tadese   Eritrea 58:23 WR Peninah Arusei   Kenya 1:08:38
2009 Martin Lel   Kenya 59:56 Kara Goucher   United States 1:08:30
2008 Haile Gebrselassie   Ethiopia 59:15 Salina Kosgei   Kenya 1:09:57
2007 Robert Kipchumba   Kenya 1:00:31 Rita Jeptoo   Kenya 1:07:05
2006 Martin Lel   Kenya 59:30 Salina Kosgei   Kenya 1:07:52
2005 Paul Tergat   Kenya 59:10 Susan Chepkemei   Kenya 1:08:49
2004 Rodgers Rop   Kenya 59:49 Joyce Chepchumba   Kenya 1:08:11
2003 Martin Lel   Kenya 1:00:10 Derartu Tulu   Ethiopia 1:09:20
2002 Haile Gebrselassie   Ethiopia 59:41 Susan Chepkemei   Kenya 1:08:23
2001 Hendrick Ramaala   South Africa 1:00:26 Susan Chepkemei   Kenya 1:05:44
2000 Paul Tergat   Kenya 59:06 Tegla Loroupe   Kenya 1:07:23
1999 Japhet Kosgei   Kenya 1:00:01 Tegla Loroupe   Kenya 1:07:52
1998 António Pinto   Portugal 59:43 Catherina McKiernan   Ireland 1:07:50
1997 Mohammed Mourhit   Belgium 1:01:17 Tegla Loroupe   Kenya 1:09:01
1996 Clement Kiprotich   Kenya 1:01:15 Tegla Loroupe   Kenya 1:07:12
1995 Simon Lopuyet   Kenya 1:00:26 Tegla Loroupe   Kenya 1:08:21
1994 Andrés Espinosa   Mexico 1:01:34 Tegla Loroupe   Kenya 1:09:27
1993 Sammy Lelei   Kenya 59:24 Nadezhda Ilyina   Russia 1:09:47
1992 Tendai Chimusasa   Zimbabwe 1:01:17 Heléna Barócsi   Hungary 1:10:01
1991 Paul Evans   England 1:01:44 Rosa Mota   Portugal 1:09:52

Statistics edit

 
Martin Lel (right) is historically the most successful male runner of the competition
 
Tegla Loroupe is a six-time winner of the race.

Winners by country edit

Country Men's race Women's race Total
  Kenya 16 17 33
  Ethiopia 3 7 10
  Eritrea 3 0 3
  Portugal 1 1 2
  United States 0 2 2
  Belgium 1 0 1
  England 1 0 1
  Hungary 0 1 1
  Ireland 0 1 1
  Mexico 1 0 1
  Russia 0 1 1
  South Africa 1 0 1
  Zimbabwe 1 0 1
  United Kingdom 1 0 1
  New Zealand 1 0 1

Multiple winners edit

Athlete Country Wins Years
Tegla Loroupe   Kenya 6 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000
Susan Chepkemei   Kenya 3 2001, 2002, 2005
Martin Lel   Kenya 3 2003, 2006, 2009
Paul Tergat   Kenya 2 2000, 2005
Zersenay Tadese   Eritrea 3 2010, 2011, 2012
Haile Gebrselassie   Ethiopia 2 2002, 2008
Salina Kosgei   Kenya 2 2006, 2008
Tsehay Gemechu   Ethiopia 2 2021, 2022

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Fernandes, Antonio Manuel (2009-03-22). Lel and Goucher win in Lisbon Archived 2012-04-26 at the Wayback Machine. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
  2. ^ a b World Athletics (2021-11-21). [https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-label-road-races/news/jacob-kiplimo-world-half-marathon-record-lisbon Kiplimo breaks world half marathon record in Lisbon. World Athletics. Retrieved on 2021-11-22.
  3. ^ a b Krol, Maarten (2009-03-29). Lisbon International Half Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
  4. ^ a b c Moreira, Cristina & Costa, Paulo (2005-03-13). Tergat runs 59:10 in Lisbon Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
  5. ^ Fernandes, Antonio Manuel (2008-03-14). New course, new bonus and amazing fields for EDP Lisbon Half Marathon - PREVIEW. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
  6. ^ a b Dixon, Andy (2009-05-06). Lisbon Half-Marathon. Runner's World. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
  7. ^ Fernandes, Antonio Manuel (2009-03-20). Wanjiru, Lel and Cheruiyot top strong fields at Lisbon Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
  8. ^ a b Fernandes, Antonio Manuel (2008-03-16). In largely solo run, Gebrselassie takes Lisbon Half Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.
  9. ^ https://files.cdsi.pt/maratona/comunicado_coronavirus_2020.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  10. ^ a b "COVID-19: Meia Maratona e Maratona de Lisboa adiadas para 2021".
  11. ^ "Race Results 2009". Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
List of winners

External links edit

  • Official website