Lisbon Half Marathon

Template:Short description Template:Ensure AAA contrast ratio EDP Lisbon Half Marathon is an annual international half marathon competition which is contested every March in Lisbon, Portugal. It carries IAAF Gold Label Road Race status. The men's course record of 57:31 was set by Jacob Kiplimo in 2021, which was the world record for the half marathon distance until 2024. Kenyan runners have been very successful in the competition, accounting for over half of the total winners, with Tegla Loroupe taking the honours in the women's race on six separate occasions. The Lisbon Half Marathon is not to be confused with Luso Portugal Half Marathon, another prominent half marathon race which is also held in Lisbon in October.

History

First held in 1991, the race has consistently delivered fast winning times. However, many of these times have been unratifiable for record purposes due to factors including: the course being too short (1991–93), excessive tailwinds, as well as there being an excessive drop in altitude, which boosted athletes' performances (1996, 1998, 2000–01, 2004, and 2006).

The course was judged as non-permissible for records until 2008, in which year the organisers changed the elite course to allow for records. The new course begins at sea level on the north side of the river Tagus, a change which made the course entirely flat. The course for the mass participation race, which has attracted almost 30,000 runners in previous years, remained unchanged and begins by crossing the Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge before linking up with the new elite course.

The current elite course of the half marathon begins in a small town on the north bank of the Tagus, no longer crossing the bridge, and the course is wide and flat from there on. Heading eastwards towards the city centre, the course passes the docks and traces a route alongside much of the city's historical architecture, including the Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery.

From 2008 onwards, the organisers set aside a €50,000 prize pot for any athlete breaking the world record over the half marathon distance. This led to the participation of a number of prominent athletes, with marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie winning the 2008 edition, while Charles Kamathi and Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot followed behind. Another strong field was assembled in 2010 and Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea broke both the 20 kilometres and half marathon world records in his winning run.

The competition also hosts a mini marathon race, which has featured many prominent Portuguese citizens, including the former President of Portugal Jorge Sampaio, and José Socrates, the Portuguese Prime Minister. Energias de Portugal has sponsored the competition for a number of years.

The 2020 edition of the race was first postponed to 2020.09.06, and then to 2021.05.09, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Winners

File:Tadesse.jpg

Zersenay Tadese broke the world record in 2010.

File:Kara Goucher Boston 2009.jpg

Kara Goucher won the women's race in 2009.

Key:

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Year	Men's winner	Nationality	Time 000(h:m:s)	Women's winner	Nationality	Time 000(h:m:s)
2025	Abdi Waiss		59:44	Tsigie Gebreselama		1:04:21
2024	Dinkalem Ayele		1:00:36	Brigid Kosgei		1:05:51
2023	Nibret Melak		59:06	Almaz Ayana		1:05:30
2022	Kenneth Renju		1:00:13	Brigid Kosgei		1:06:46
2021	Jacob Kiplimo		57:31	Daisy Cherotich		1:06:15
2020	postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal
2019	Mosinet Geremew		59:37	Vivian Cheruiyot		1:06:34
2018	Eric Kiptanui		1:00:05	Etagegn Woldu		1:11:27
2017	Jake Robertson		1:00:01	Mare Dibaba		1:09:43
2016	Sammy Kitwara		59:47	Ruti Aga		1:09:16
2015	Mo Farah		59:32	Rose Chelimo		1:08:22
2014	Bedan Karoki		59:58	Worknesh Degefa		1:08:46
2013	Bernard Koech		59:54	Edna Kiplagat		1:08:48
2012	Zersenay Tadese		59:34	Shalane Flanagan		1:08:52
2011	Zersenay Tadese		58:30	Aberu Kebede		1:08:28
2010	Zersenay Tadese		58:23	Peninah Arusei		1:08:38
2009	Martin Lel		59:56	Kara Goucher		1:08:30
2008	Haile Gebrselassie		59:15	Salina Kosgei		1:09:57
2007	Robert Kipchumba		1:00:31	Rita Jeptoo		1:07:05
2006	Martin Lel		59:30	Salina Kosgei		1:07:52
2005	Paul Tergat		59:10	Susan Chepkemei		1:08:49
2004	Rodgers Rop		59:49	Joyce Chepchumba		1:08:11
2003	Martin Lel		1:00:10	Derartu Tulu		1:09:20
2002	Haile Gebrselassie		59:41	Susan Chepkemei		1:08:23
2001	Hendrick Ramaala		1:00:26	Susan Chepkemei		1:05:44
2000	Paul Tergat		59:06	Tegla Loroupe		1:07:23
1999	Japhet Kosgei		1:00:01	Tegla Loroupe		1:07:52
1998	António Pinto		59:43	Catherina McKiernan		1:07:50
1997	Mohammed Mourhit		1:01:17	Tegla Loroupe		1:09:01
1996	Clement Kiprotich		1:01:15	Tegla Loroupe		1:07:12
1995	Simon Lopuyet		1:00:26	Tegla Loroupe		1:08:21
1994	Andrés Espinosa		1:01:34	Tegla Loroupe		1:09:27
1993	Sammy Lelei		59:24	Nadezhda Ilyina		1:09:47
1992	Tendai Chimusasa		1:01:17	Heléna Barócsi		1:10:01
1991	Paul Evans		1:01:44	Rosa Mota		1:09:52

Statistics

File:20060423 Felix Limo and Martin Lel.jpg

Martin Lel (right) is historically the most successful male runner of the competition

File:Loroupe, Tegla.JPG

Tegla Loroupe is a six-time winner of the race.

Winners by country

Country	Men's race	Women's race	Total
	16	18	34
	5	10	15
	3	0	3
	1	1	2
	0	2	2
	1	0	1
	1	0	1
	0	1	1
	0	1	1
	1	0	1
	0	1	1
	1	0	1
	1	0	1
	1	0	1
	1	0	1
	1	0	1
	1	0	1

Multiple winners

Athlete	Country	Wins	Years
Tegla Loroupe		6	1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000
Susan Chepkemei		3	2001, 2002, 2005
Martin Lel		3	2003, 2006, 2009
Paul Tergat		2	2000, 2005
Zersenay Tadese		3	2010, 2011, 2012
Haile Gebrselassie		2	2002, 2008
Salina Kosgei		2	2006, 2008
Tsehay Gemechu		2	2021, 2022

See also

• Lisbon Marathon
• Portugal Half Marathon

References

List of winners

• Krol, Maarten (2009-03-29). Lisbon International Half Marathon. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2010-03-22.

External links

• Official website