Bilbao, Spain — Uganda’s dominance on the international road running scene continued over the weekend as Maxwell Kortek Rotich and Ezekiel Mutai delivered a spectacular 1-2 finish at the Bilbao Half Marathon in Spain.
Rotich, 26, powered through the cool evening streets of Bilbao to claim victory in a time of 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 37 seconds (1:02:37). His compatriot Ezekiel Mutai followed closely, clocking 1:02:48, just 11 seconds behind. Kenya’s Zacharia Krop completed the podium in third place with 1:03:16.
The race, part of the TotalEnergies Bilbao Night Running Festival, started at 7:00 p.m. from the San Mamés Stadium and concluded dramatically at the Guggenheim Museum, with thousands of fans lining the illuminated route. Known for its flat, scenic, and night-friendly course, the event drew elite athletes from across Africa and Europe.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Purity Kajuju Gitonga emerged victorious in 1:10:45, followed by compatriot Stella Chebet Mateiko in 1:11:47, and Ethiopia’s Diniya Kedir Abaraya in 1:12:01.
Men’s Top Results
- Maxwell Kortek Rotich (Uganda) – 1:02:37
- Ezekiel Mutai (Uganda) – 1:02:48
- Zacharia Krop (Kenya) – 1:03:16
Women’s Top Results
- Purity Kajuju Gitonga (Kenya) – 1:10:45
- Stella Chebet Mateiko (Kenya) – 1:11:47
- Diniya Kedir Abaraya (Ethiopia) – 1:12:01
The Bilbao Night Running Fest also featured a full marathon and a 10K “Pirate Race”, making it one of Spain’s most vibrant running events.