The streets of Barcelona were alive with energy and anticipation on Sunday, February 15, 2026, as the city played host to its record-breaking 37th edition of the Barcelona Half Marathon. More than 36,000 runners from 93 countries, including a record 40% female and a youthful 35% under the age of 35, took to the iconic course—an event that has grown twentyfold in participation over the past decade, according to David Escudé, the city’s Councilor for Sports. The race, recognized as a World Athletics Gold Label road event, delivered both drama and history, with world-leading performances and a slew of national records and personal bests falling under the bright Catalan sun.
For the men’s race, Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet stole the spotlight. The 2016 Olympic 5000m bronze medallist and world 5km champion set out with clear intent, leading the field from the start. He crossed the 5km mark in 13:52 and powered through 10km at 27:18, opening up a commanding 25-second lead. Despite a slight fade in the final kilometers, Gebrhiwet’s pace proved unmatchable. He broke the tape in 58:05, not only claiming victory but also setting the fastest half marathon time in the world so far this year—overtaking Geoffrey Kamworor’s 58:14 set just a day prior in Ras Al Khaimah. Gebrhiwet’s performance was a statement ahead of his upcoming marathon debut in London this April.
Switzerland’s Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu, originally from South Sudan, put in a sterling effort to finish second in 59:26. That time elevated him to joint third on the European all-time list—an extraordinary achievement for the Swiss athlete. France’s Emmanuel Roudolff rounded out the podium, finishing third in 59:37 and shattering the French national record previously held by Morhad Amdouni (59:40, set in 2020). Australian Jack Rayner also made headlines, clocking 59:53 in sixth to break his own country’s record, previously set at 59:57 by Brett Robinson.
The British contingent had plenty to cheer about as well, with several athletes smashing their personal bests. Zak Mahamad finished eighth in 1:00:46, Mahamed Mahamed took 11th in 1:01:09—seven seconds faster than his previous best—and Tewelde Menges chopped more than two and a half minutes off his PB with a 1:01:19 for 17th place. Andy Butchart, who recently set a Scottish 10km record in Valencia, crossed the line in 21st at 1:01:45, improving his own half marathon best by 30 seconds. It was an inspiring day for these athletes, many of whom are preparing for upcoming marathons in the spring.
But if there was a true star of the day, it was Kenya’s Loice Chemnung in the women’s race. The 28-year-old, who finished fourth at last year’s Chicago Marathon, delivered an emphatic wire-to-wire victory, setting a new course record with her time of 1:04:01. Chemnung’s performance didn’t just rewrite Barcelona’s history books—it propelled her to sixth on the all-time world list for the women’s half marathon. She eclipsed the previous course record of 1:04:13, set by Joyciline Jepkosgei just a year ago, and left her rivals trailing in her wake.
Chemnung’s early pacing was aggressive, hitting 5km in 15:20 and extending her lead steadily. By 10km, she had a 42-second gap, and she never looked back. At the finish, Chemnung’s joy was palpable. As she later remarked, "It’s the best Half Marathon in the world," a sentiment echoed by many in the field and by Barcelona’s own sports officials.
American Weini Kelati Frezghi finished a distant second but with her own piece of history. Her time of 1:06:04 improved her North American and American record by five seconds. Ethiopia’s Diniya Kedir Abaraya completed the women’s podium in 1:06:28, having surged past USA’s Taylor Roe in the closing kilometers. The top five was rounded out by Taylor Roe (1:06:52) and Kenya’s Magdalyne Yeko Masai (1:07:42), showing the depth of international talent on display.
British women also made their mark. Samantha Harrison was the first Brit home in ninth at 1:09:00, with Jess Warner-Judd taking 11th in 1:10:77. Louise Small finished 12th with a big personal best of 1:10:23, and Jessica Martin claimed 14th in 1:10:54. Their performances underscored the growing strength and depth of British distance running.
While the racing was fierce, the event’s atmosphere was equally memorable. More than 20 entertainment points dotted the course, and the sun broke through after days of rain, creating ideal conditions for fast times and personal triumphs. The route, unchanged from last year, began on Passeig Picasso near Parc de la Ciutadella and finished along Passeig Pujades, providing a scenic tour of Barcelona’s vibrant cityscape. The international flavor was unmistakable, with runners from 93 nations and a record percentage of women and young athletes in the field.
Yet, the day was not without its controversies. The shadow of last year’s unratified world record by Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo loomed large. Kiplimo’s astonishing 56:42 from 2025 was recently invalidated by World Athletics, who determined he gained an unfair pacing advantage from a lead vehicle. As a result, Yomif Kejelcha’s 57:30 remains the official world record. The decision has sparked debate, with Barcelona City Council’s Sports Councillor David Escudé describing it as "difficult to understand." Escudé pledged, "We will fight to change this decision. Barcelona City Council will go all the way. We understand absolutely nothing: neither the delay, nor the result, nor the lack of information, nor the fact that the best time is recognized but not the record." The controversy has only added fuel to the city’s determination to uphold its reputation as a world-class venue for road racing.
With the 37th edition now in the books, Barcelona has once again proven itself as a mecca for distance running. From record-shattering performances to a festival-like atmosphere and spirited debates on the sport’s future, the 2026 Barcelona Half Marathon will be remembered as a day when history was made, records were broken, and the global running community came together in spectacular fashion. As the dust settles, all eyes turn to the next challenge—whether it’s the London Marathon for Gebrhiwet or the ongoing campaign to validate Kiplimo’s historic run, the spirit of competition and camaraderie endures on the streets of Barcelona.