Ejgayehu Taye Breaks Rimi Riga Marathon Course Record in the Women’s Half Marathon
17 May 2026Ejgayehu Taye claimed victory in the women’s half marathon at the Rimi Riga Marathon on 17 May, finishing in 1:04:22 and setting a new course record. In the men’s race, Kenya’s Charles Mbatha Matata took the win in 59:15, missing the Rimi Riga Marathon course record by just five seconds.
In the women’s competition, the course record set in 2024 — 1:07:13 — was convincingly improved by Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, who crossed the finish line in 1:04:22. She was followed by Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui in 1:06:01, while Stella Chesang finished third in 1:08:15.
In the men’s race, Matata was followed by Kenya’s James Kipkogei, who finished second in 59:50, while Benson Tunyo Murkomen, also from Kenya, claimed bronze in 1:00:29.
Jānis Višķers and Ilze Jumiķe fastest Latvian runners in the half marathon
Among Latvian runners, Jānis Višķers delivered the fastest result in the men’s race, finishing in 1:12:50 and placing 14th overall. Vadims Marinecs recorded the second-fastest Latvian result with 1:13:20, while Raitis Jirgensons was the third-fastest Latvian runner at the Rimi Riga Marathon, finishing in 1:15:14.
In the women’s elite field, Ilze Jumiķe was the fastest Latvian today, winning in 1:21:35 and placing 10th overall among women. Zanda Malančuka took silver in 1:23:24, while bronze went to Baiba Medne in 1:25:07.
