NAIROBI, Kenya, February 8, 2026 – Irine Cheptai led a 1-2 Kenyan finish to win the Burj2Burj Half Marathon in Dubai on Sunday morning.
The Commonwealth Games 10,000m silver medalist stopped the clock at 1:06:57, finishing ahead of fellow countrywoman, Daisilah Jerono, who came second in 1:06:59.
In third place was Ethiopian Ftaw Zeray who timed 1:07:01.
It was Cheptai’s first race of the year, following on from the Shanghai Marathon in China where she finished second after clocking 2:18:51.
She was also in contention at last year’s Boston Marathon where she finished fourth in 2:21:32.
Narrow loss to Cheptegei
At the same time in Dubai, Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkorir finished a close second after clocking 59:28 in the men’s race.
Ugandan legend Joshua Cheptegei took top honour after timing 59:26 whereas world champion Alphonce Simbu of Tanzania came third in 59:30, in what was a closely contested race.
