The 2026 edition of the Barcelona Half Marathon delivered fireworks, producing the two fastest times in the world this year. Hagos Gebrhiwet and Loice Chemnung dominated the streets of the Catalan capital, cementing the race’s reputation as one of the fastest circuits on the global circuit.
Hagos Gebrhiwet Dominates: A Statement Win Before London
Hagos Gebrhiwet, a Rio Olympic bronze medalist and fifth-place finisher in Paris, displayed elite form ahead of his highly anticipated debut at the London Marathon. By the 5km mark, which he crossed in 13:52, the Ethiopian began gapping the field. Initially running stride-for-stride with Dominic Lobalu, Gebrhiwet surged between kilometers five and ten with a blistering 13:26 split, launching a solo bid for victory.
By the 10km point (27:18), he held a 25-second lead over Lobalu. Although he couldn’t maintain that ferocious sub-world-record pace through 15km (41:58), his lead nevertheless swelled to 52 seconds. Gebrhiwet crossed the finish line in 58:05, the fastest time in the world for 2026 so far, eclipsing Geoffrey Kamworor’s recent mark.
The battle behind him was equally intense, reshuffling the European all-time lists. Runner-up Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu, representing Switzerland, clocked 59:26, moving him to third on the European all-time list despite a visible fade in the closing stages. The surprise of the day came from France’s Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse, who finished third in 59:37, breaking the French national record by three seconds. This massive breakthrough comes just three weeks after his 1:01:24 win in Seville. Other notable performances included Jack Rayner, who set an Australian record of 59:53, and Kenya’s Amos Kipkemoi Bett, who rounded out the top seven.
Loice Chemnung Makes History: Course Record and All-Time Top 10
The women’s race was a masterclass by Loice Chemnung, who led from gun to tape. The Kenyan set a relentless pace that left the field shattered, including early challenger Weini Kelati Frezghi. By 5km (15:20), Chemnung already held a seven-second advantage over the American.
Her lead only grew as she hit the 10km mark in 30:09, sitting 42 seconds clear of a chase pack featuring Kelati and Taylor Roe. Chemnung stopped the clock at 1:04:01—a new course record and the sixth-fastest half marathon in history. She shaved 12 seconds off the previous course mark, celebrating a career-defining performance at the finish line.
Weini Kelati Frezghi secured second place, finishing exactly two minutes behind the winner. The American once again rewrote the record books, lowering her own North American record by five seconds to finish in 1:06:04. Ethiopia’s Diniya Kedir Abaraya took third in 1:06:28, overtaking Taylor Roe in the final stages. Roe finished fourth in 1:06:52, a world-class result in its own right. The depth of the field was evident, with strong showings from Magdalyne Yeko Masai and Germany’s Domenika Mayer, proving why this World Athletics Gold Label race is a magnet for the elite.
British “Invasion” as a Spring Marathon Tune-Up
Barcelona also served as a critical testing ground for a large contingent of British elites preparing for spring marathons. Mahamed Mahamed took 11th place in 1:01:09, a seven-second personal best, while his brother, Zak Mahamed, finished 8th in 1:00:46. Tewelde Menges saw the biggest improvement, slicing over two minutes off his lifetime best to finish 17th in 1:01:19. Andy Butchart, fresh off a Scottish 10km record, lowered his half marathon PB to 1:01:45. On the women’s side, Samantha Harrison was the top Brit, finishing in 1:09:00.
Barcelona Confirms Its Status as a Record Haven
The Hyundai Mitja Marató de Barcelona by Brooks lived up to its billing. The sheer dominance of Hagos Gebrhiwet and the historic run by Loice Chemnung have set a high bar for the 2026 season. For fans and athletes alike, the fast Catalan course once again proved to be the ultimate destination for national records and personal bests within the global elite.
Full results for the 2026 Hyundai Mitja Marató de Barcelona by Brooks
