At 9:00 on March 15, 2026, the 2026 Meishan Renshou Half Marathon and the 2026 National Half Marathon Championships kicked off. Last year, young talent Yu Shuiqing set a new national record here with 1:01:46, making the Meishan Renshou Half Marathon a deserved record-setting venue and raising expectations for this year’s event.
A host of top domestic athletes, including Zhang Deshun, Liang Tiantian, Dong Guojian, Jiang Fakun, both the elder and younger Zaxi Ciren, and Jia Erenjia, took part in this year’s competition. The international elite field includes last year’s Shanghai Marathon men’s champion Milkesa Mengesha (Milkesa Mengesha) and Ruti Aga, who secured back-to-back women’s titles at the Xiamen Marathon this year. Alex Matata, last year’s men’s champion at the Meishan Renshou Half Marathon, has also returned to the start line aiming to defend his title.
After the start, defending champion Matata led the large pack out front,Ruti Aga and Zhang Deshun were running first overall among the women and first among the domestic competitors, respectively.
At 5 km, the men's lead group clocked 14:36, with Jia Erenjia and Jiang Fakun in the lead group. On the women's side, Ruti Aga passed first in 15:55; Zhang Deshun was 26 seconds back and sat in tenth among the women,followed closely by Li Qingqing and Liu Min.
The men's lead group began to accelerate at 5 km; after 7 km the lead group was down to six, with Renqing Dongzhibu among them.
At 10 km, Matata passed first in 28:52, 12 seconds off the course record. Renqing Dongzhibu passed sixth in 29:05, averaging 2:54 per kilometer — a very fast 10 km split.
On the women's side,Ruti Aga covered the first 10 km in 31:53, with He Wuxia and Liang Tiantian moving up to third and fourth among the women's field, only 20 seconds behind Ruti Aga.
Then Matata, aiming to defend the title, began to push, breaking away as he charged toward retaining the championship. After 15 km, Jiaerenjia began to surge, gradually rising to the top domestic men's position.
At 20 kilometers,Matataclocked 56 minutes 53 seconds; the nearest chaser was 53 seconds behind him, and the victory was essentially secure. Jia'erenjia passed 2 minutes 9 seconds later, with Renqing Dongzhibu close behind; the Chinese men's title will be decided between the two.
Ultimately Matata clocked 59 minutes 50 seconds and was first across the line. Jia Erenjia significantly improved his personal PB, clocking 1 hour 2 minutes 6 seconds to win the Chinese men's title. Renqing Dongzhibu took second among Chinese men.
On the women's side, Ruti Aga won in 1 hour 8 minutes 1 second. Liang Tiantian followed closely, 1 hour 8 minutes 33 seconds for second overall and first among Chinese, setting a personal best. He Wuxia finished third overall in 1 hour 9 minutes 7 seconds and was second among Chinese.
Congratulations to all the athletes on their outstanding performances!
