Kenyan runners dominate world half marathon championship, Caune and Serjogins post improved times

At the world half marathon championships, Kenyan athlete Agnes Ngetich won the women's race — held as a women-only event — with a new world record, crossing the finish line in one hour, five minutes and 15 seconds. Her compatriot Veronica Loleo finished second, 50 seconds behind, while Florence Nyonkuru of Rwanda took third, trailing by a further three seconds and setting a new national record for her country.

Latvian runner Caune completed the course in one hour, 14 minutes and 27 seconds, improving her personal best by more than a minute. Fellow Latvian athlete Strausa finished in one hour, 18 minutes and 21 seconds, more than five minutes slower than her personal record. A total of 105 women finished the race, with two more failing to complete the distance.

In the men's race, Sweden's Andreas Almgren won with a new European record of 58 minutes and six seconds. Kenya's Nicholas Kipkorir crossed the line five seconds later, while Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei took third, 15 seconds behind the winner.

Latvian runner Serjogins finished in one hour, seven minutes and one second, nearly three minutes slower than his own Latvian record. In the men's race, 121 athletes reached the finish, while six more dropped out.

On Saturday, medals were also awarded at the same championships in the mile and 5-kilometer races. This marks the second time such a world championship format has taken place, after the event was first held in Riga in 2023.