Mark Kiptoo and Jedidah Chepkemoi Sang Win Stramilano Half Marathon 2026
Uganda’s Mark Kiptoo and Kenya’s Jedidah Chepkemoi Sang claimed impressive victories at the 53rd edition of the Stramilano Half Marathon, delivering commanding performances in Milan.
Kiptoo crossed the finish-line in 1:00:09 beating Kenya’s Amon Kiptoo (1:00:28). Philemon Kimaiyo Kiplimo, who started as the favourite with the fastest time of 58:11 in the half marathon and a PB of 2:04:01 in the marathon, completed the African podium by finishing third in 1:00:41. Asbel Kiprop Rutto, winner at the 2026 Rome Marathon in 2:06:32, placed fourth in 1:02:16 ahead of his compatriot Victor Chelangat (1:02:22).
A leading group formed by eight athletes went through at 5 km in 14:12. Amon Kiptoo, Philemon Kimaiyo and Mark Kiptoo pulled away from the rest of the field when they reached the 10 km mark in 28:34. The African trio built a gap of 53 seconds over Rutto when they reached the 15 km mark in 42:49.
Mark and Amon Kiptoo remained alone in the lead at 16 km. Mark Kiptoo launched his attack at 18 km.
“I did not expect to win. I realized that I could win at 15 km. I received a great support from the crowd along the course”.
Women’s race:
Sang Jedidah Chepkemoi from Kenya won the women’s half marathon race in 1:10:04 with a lead of 1 minute and 13 seconds over her compatriot Hilda Kiptm Jelagat (1:11:17). Uganda’s Esther Chepkemoi completed the podium by finishing third in 1:11:28.
The African trio formed by Sang Chepkemoi, Hilda Kibet and Esther Chepkemoi went through the 5 km in 16:20 and and at 10 km in 32:52. Sang Chepkemoi surged away from Kibet at 15 km and built a lead of three seconds over Kibet. Chepkemoi increased her gap to 22 seconds at 16 km and more than 1 minute at 21 km.
Sang Chepkemoi, who was born in 2002, set her PB of 1:09:00 in Madrid last March.
Sang Jedidah Chepkemoi: “I am happy that I won a historic and prestigious race. I was running one of my first international races in a high-level race. I was able to confirm my leve after setting my PB of 1:09.00 in Madrid”.
