Ugandan long-distance runner Deogracius Musobo won the men’s half marathon at the Bilbao Night Running Fest in Spain on Saturday, October 17, 2026, setting a course record of one hour, 34 seconds in his debut over the distance.
Musobo finished ahead of Kenya’s Evans Kipkorir, who clocked 1:00:45, and Ethiopia’s Alemayehu Mulate Teshager, who came third in 1:00:47.
According to results reported by Spanish media outlet Deia, Musobo’s winning time improved the previous course record of 1:00:37, set by Kenya’s Peter Mwaniki in 2023, by three seconds.
The Ugandan’s performance also marked a personal best, according to Uganda Athletics Track & Field, which congratulated him on the victory in a social media post.
Musobo, whose World Athletics profile lists him as a Ugandan athlete born on March 30, 1997, was among the competitors expected to challenge for the men’s title despite making his debut at the distance. His entry time was 27:59 over 10 kilometres.
The race formed part of the Bilbao Night Running Fest, which featured a 10-kilometre race alongside the half marathon. Organisers expected about 27,000 runners across the two distances, making the 2026 edition a record participation event.
In the women’s half marathon, Ethiopia’s Diniya Kedir Abaraya won in 1:09:16, ahead of Kenya’s Sharon Jerono, who finished in 1:10:04, and Winsam Jerono, who clocked 1:10:13.
Musobo’s victory adds to Uganda’s presence in international distance running, with the country continuing to produce athletes competing in road races and track events around the world.