The 2026 Hyundai Mitja Marató de Barcelona by Brooks delivered another spectacular edition on Sunday, February 15, producing the two fastest half marathon performances in the world this year. Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet dominated the men’s race in 58:05, while Kenya’s Loice Chemnung set a new women’s course record of 1:04:01 — the sixth-fastest half marathon in history. A record 36,000 runners from 93 countries filled the streets of the Catalan capital for a World Athletics Gold Label road race that continues to cement its reputation as one of the fastest and most popular half marathons on the planet.
Men’s Race: Gebrhiwet Makes London Marathon Statement
Hagos Gebrhiwet, the 2016 Olympic 5000m bronze medalist and reigning World 5km champion, left little doubt about his elite credentials ahead of his highly anticipated marathon debut in London this April. The Ethiopian was on a mission from the start, breaking away with Switzerland’s Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu in the opening kilometers.
By the 5km mark, Gebrhiwet led in 13:52 with Lobalu just two seconds behind. Then came the decisive move: Gebrhiwet unleashed a blistering 13:26 split between 5km and 10km, running solo to reach the 10km checkpoint in 27:18 — a full 25 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. Although the Ethiopian couldn’t sustain that ferocious sub-world-record pace, he continued to extend his advantage through 15km (41:58), where he led by 52 seconds.
Gebrhiwet crossed the finish line unchallenged in 58:05, the fastest half marathon time recorded anywhere in the world in 2026. The performance was all the more impressive given his transition from track specialist to road racing, signaling serious ambitions for his London Marathon debut.
Behind the winner, the battle for the remaining podium spots reshuffled European record books. Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu finished second in 59:26, climbing to third on the European all-time list. The surprise of the day came from France’s Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse, who stormed to third place in 59:37, smashing the French national record by three seconds. Remarkably, this came just three weeks after Roudolff-Levisse won in Seville. Australia’s Jack Rayner also made history, setting a new Australian record of 59:53.
Men’s Top 8 Results
| Place | Athlete | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hagos Gebrhiwet | Ethiopia | 58:05 |
| 2 | Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu | Switzerland | 59:26 |
| 3 | Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse | France | 59:37 |
| 4 | Samwel Nyamai Mailu | Kenya | 59:42 |
| 5 | Hagos Eyob | Ethiopia | 59:42 |
| 6 | Jack Rayner | Australia | 59:53 |
| 7 | Amos Kipkemoi Bett | Kenya | 59:53 |
| 8 | Zak Mahamed | Great Britain | 1:00:46 |
Women’s Race: Chemnung Smashes Course Record
Loice Chemnung produced one of the standout performances of the early 2026 season, leading from start to finish in a dominant front-running display. The 28-year-old Kenyan, who finished fourth at the Chicago Marathon last October, made her intentions clear from the gun, pulling away from early challenger Weini Kelati Frezghi by the 5km mark, where Chemnung led in 15:20 to Kelati’s 15:27.
Chemnung’s advantage only grew as the race progressed. She hit 10km in 30:09, sitting 42 seconds clear of the chase pack. By 15km (45:17), her lead was insurmountable. She crossed the finish line in 1:04:01, smashing the course record of 1:04:13 set by fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei at last year’s edition. The time places Chemnung sixth on the world all-time list for the half marathon distance.
American Weini Kelati Frezghi delivered her own record-breaking run in second place, finishing in 1:06:04 to improve her own North American record by five seconds. Ethiopia’s Diniya Kedir Abaraya overtook USA’s Taylor Roe in the closing stages to claim third in 1:06:28. Germany’s Domenika Mayer had a strong showing in sixth with 1:08:08.
Women’s Top 8 Results
| Place | Athlete | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Loice Chemnung | Kenya | 1:04:01 |
| 2 | Weini Kelati Frezghi | USA | 1:06:04 |
| 3 | Diniya Kedir Abaraya | Ethiopia | 1:06:28 |
| 4 | Taylor Roe | USA | 1:06:52 |
| 5 | Magdalyne Yeko Masai | Kenya | 1:07:42 |
| 6 | Domenika Mayer | Germany | 1:08:08 |
| 7 | Netsanet Desta Gebre | Ethiopia | 1:08:10 |
| 8 | Mekdes Woldu | France | 1:08:36 |
National Records and Notable Performances
Beyond the headline results, the 2026 Barcelona Half Marathon proved to be a record-breaking bonanza across multiple nationalities. Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse’s French national record (59:37) and Jack Rayner’s Australian record (59:53) were the most notable, but the race also served as an important preparation ground for many athletes targeting spring marathons.
A strong British contingent used Barcelona as a tune-up, with Mahamed Mahamed finishing 11th in a seven-second personal best of 1:01:09, his brother Zak Mahamed taking eighth in 1:00:46, and Tewelde Menges slicing over two minutes off his lifetime best to clock 1:01:19. Andy Butchart, fresh off a Scottish 10km record, also lowered his half marathon personal best to 1:01:45. On the women’s side, Samantha Harrison led the British women with a time of 1:09:00.
Barcelona: The World’s Fastest Half Marathon Course?
The 2026 edition further solidified Barcelona’s claim as home to the world’s premier half marathon. Last year’s race saw Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo blaze to a jaw-dropping 56:42 — 48 seconds faster than the previous world record — though World Athletics subsequently decided not to ratify the time as a world record, ruling that Kiplimo had benefited from running behind a vehicle during part of the race. The decision sparked controversy, with Barcelona City Council’s Sports Councillor David Escudé vowing to appeal.
Regardless of the record debate, the numbers speak for themselves: 36,000 registered runners, women making up a record 40% of participants, representatives from 93 countries, and consistently fast times from the elite field. The flat, fast course that starts at Passeig de Picasso near Parc de la Ciutadella and winds through Barcelona’s waterfront continues to attract the very best in the sport.
About the Barcelona Half Marathon
The Hyundai Mitja Marató de Barcelona by Brooks is a World Athletics Gold Label road race held annually in February. Now in its 35th edition, the event has grown into Spain’s largest half marathon and the second largest in Europe, attracting tens of thousands of runners to its fast, flat course through the heart of Barcelona. The race passes through some of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods, from the Gothic Quarter to the Forum district and along the Mediterranean seafront.
Whether you ran Barcelona or are gearing up for your next half marathon, RunningLog makes it easy to track your training, log race results, and monitor your progression toward your next personal best.
