Cardiff Half Marathon 2025: Yismaw Dillu wins and sets new record

Yismaw Dillu set a new men’s record in winning the Cardiff Half Marathon 2025.

The 20-year-old Ethiopian crossed the tape in a time of 59 minutes 23 seconds, beating the mark set by Kenya’s Leonard Langat in 2019 by seven seconds.

Last year’s women’s winner Miriam Chebet defended her title, the Kenyan knocking five seconds off her 2024 time to finish in 1:06:36.

Ethiopia’s Alem Nigus was second in 1:07:32, with Ethiopian debutant Wudinesh Alemu third (1:08:07).

Leeds native Callum Hall – coached by Welsh great Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson’s husband Ian – won the wheelchair race in 53:46, ahead of Poland’s Sam Kolek (57:28) and Josh Hickinbottom (59:07).

Dillu dominated the 22nd edition of the the 13.1 mile (21km) race across the Welsh capital, with more than 29,000 places allocated.

He finished more than 40 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Ismael Kiprono, who was runner-up in 1:00:04, with Dillu’s compatriot Fikadu Liche third in 1:00:33.