Kipkorir wins in Copenhagen after crash

Heavy rain just before the start of the 10th edition of the Copenhagen Half Marathon made fast times and record-breaking performances seem unlikely — but that changed as the weather improved mid-race.

At the 7 km mark, a lead pack of six Kenyan runners had formed when Kipkorir suddenly slipped on a painted road strip while taking a sharp turn. He crashed hard onto the asphalt and appeared to lose contact with the leaders — only to astonishingly rejoin them five kilometers later.

The lead group passed 15K in 41:35, now reduced to four runners. With one kilometer to go, Vincent Langat looked poised to win, but Kipkorir surged again in the final stretch. In a thrilling finish, he edged out Langat by one second to take the win in 58:23 — a time that places both athletes second and third, respectively, on the 2025 world list.

“I’m very happy with this victory,” Kipkorir, a former Olympic 5000m fourth-place finisher, told the press. “I was surprised I could still win after the crash. I was a bit scared of slipping again, but I just kept pushing and finished strong.”

Irish Record falls
The first five finishers — all Kenyan — broke the one-hour barrier. Patrick Dever (GBR) was the fastest European, placing seventh in 1:00:16. Just behind him, Fearghal Curtin set a new Irish national record with 1:00:22, shaving 27 seconds off Alistair Cragg’s long-standing mark from the 2011 New York Half Marathon.

Local favorite and European U23 Champion Joel Ibler Lillesø also impressed in his debut over the distance, finishing 15th in 1:02:31.

Amebaw breaks 65-minute barrier in Women’s Race
In the women’s race, a lead group of four passed 10K in a blistering 30:20. By 15K, Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN), one of the pre-race favorites, had fallen behind by 30 seconds.

Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw then made her move, pulling away to win in 1:04:44 — smashing the previous course record by 18 seconds. Sharon Lokedi (KEN) also dipped under the old mark, finishing second in 1:05:00, while Ethiopian debutant Wede Kefale claimed third in 1:05:21.

Record participation
A record-breaking 32,000 runners took part in the 10th edition of the CPH Half, solidifying its place as one of the world’s premier road races.

Copenhagen Half Marathon 2025 - Top 3

Men
1. Nicolas Kipkorir, Kenya 58:23
2. Vincent Langat, Kenya 58:24
3. Isaiyah Lasoi, Kenya 58:49

Women
1. Likina Amebaw, Ethiopia 1:04:44 – Race Record
2. Sharon Lokedi, Kenya 1:05:00
3. Wede Kefale, Ethiopia 1:05:21