Alex Nzioka Matata returns to defend his Yangzhou Half Marathon title against Jemal Yimer and Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba, while Ftaw Zeray tops the women’s field for the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (29). They will be joined by Solomon Kirwa Yego, who won the Shanghai Half Marathon earlier this month, plus last year’s Seoul Marathon runner-up Felix Kirwa, Asefa Boki, Victor Kipchirchir, Santiago Catrofe and Feng Peiyou. Ethiopia’s Zeray is back in half marathon action fresh off the PB of 1:05:12 she ran to win in Paris earlier this month. Zeray, who finished sixth in the world half marathon in Riga in 2023, races the distance for the third time this year having started her season with third place in the Burj2Burj Half Marathon. Ethiopia’s 2019 Tokyo Marathon champion Ruti Aga, who has made the podium for multiple World Marathon Majors, returned to half marathon action for the first time since 2020 in March, winning in Meishan in 1:08:04.

Source: Ethiopian News March 28, 2026 06:58 UTC