NYRR Media Center

Abel Kipchumba made an impressive debut in New York City in 2024, winning the United Airlines NYC Half in 1:00:25.

Kipchumba is the 10th-fastest half marathoner of all time and owns the fastest personal best in the field, 58:07 from his victory at the 2021 Valencia Half Marathon. Additionally, he has completed four half marathons in under one hour, most recently winning the 2024 Great North Run in 59:52. In 2023, he won the B.A.A. Half Marathon in Boston, where he broke away from the rest of the field with 5K to go.

In 2019, Kipchumba spent two months in San Diego contributing to the development of the first iteration of his sponsor’s super shoe. His distinctive, upright, arched-back running style is a result of his previous job of carrying 200-pound sacks of maize.