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Boston Half 2026: Samuel runs 59:49, first sub-hour half marathon in Massachusetts

Races3 min read
On this page
  1. In short
  2. Men's race
  3. Women's race
  4. Wheelchair divisions
  5. Context
  6. Limits
  7. Sources

Men's race

Samuel broke away from the pack shortly after 15K and finished alone in 59:49, shaving 45 seconds off the event record (1:00:34) set in 2013 by Lelisa Desisa, a two-time Boston Marathon champion.1,2

  1. Habtom Samuel (ERI): 59:49, event record
  2. Andrea Kiptoo (KEN): 1:01:03
  3. Abel Kipchumba (KEN): 1:01:16

Jack Aho was sixth and top American in 1:01:53, the fastest time by a US athlete in event history (previous best 1:01:57 by Chandler Gibbens in 2025).1

Women's race

Belayneh settled the race in a sprint on the final hill into Franklin Park, finishing two seconds ahead of Kenya's Winfred Mbithe (1:09:16). Ethiopia's Sintayehu Lewetegn was third in 1:09:26.1

  1. Fentaye Belayneh (ETH): 1:09:14
  2. Winfred Mbithe (KEN): 1:09:16
  3. Sintayehu Lewetegn (ETH): 1:09:26

With this win Belayneh is the first woman to take three consecutive Boston Half titles. Sydney Vaught was fifth and top American in 1:09:44, in her debut at the distance.1

Wheelchair divisions

Daniel Romanchuk (USA) won the men's wheelchair division in 45:53, a new event record: 1:46 faster than his own 2024 mark. In the women's race Yen Hoang (USA) edged Jenna Ayers in a photo finish: both were credited with 1:02:54.1

Context

The race started and finished in Franklin Park, Boston, with more than 7,400 participants; over 600 Team Dana-Farber runners raised nearly $1 million. Figures stated by the organiser.1 According to LetsRun, the two winners earned $15,000 each, with a $10,000 record bonus for Samuel.2

Limits

  • Times and places come from the official B.A.A. release of 8 November 2026, with concordant confirmation from LetsRun. Full searchable results are published by the organiser.
  • Participation, fundraising and prize figures are statements by the organiser or the cited source, not independently verifiable.
  • We do not report splits, weather or equipment beyond what the sources state.

Sources

  1. B.A.A., "Event Records, Fast Finishes Highlight 2026 Boston Half", 8 November 2026. baa.org. Times, podiums, records and quotes read on 9 November 2026.
  2. LetsRun.com, "Habtom Samuel (59:49) runs first sub-60 half-marathon Mass. history at Boston Half; Fentaye Belayneh three-peats", 8 November 2026. letsrun.com. Time confirmation and prize money read on 9 November 2026.
  3. B.A.A., searchable official results. bstnmar.org. Results portal cited by the official release, checked on 9 November 2026.

Sources read on 9 November 2026.

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