Hong Kong Half Marathon champion Grace Loibach will face strong opposition from Ethiopia’s Wede Kefale and compatriot Miriam Chebet when she returns to the Far East on Sunday to defend her title.
Loibach stormed to victory at last year’s race in a course-record time of 1:07:56, breaking the previous mark of 1:08:04 set by Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat in 2023.
Her victory also spearheaded a Kenyan podium sweep, with Viola Chepng’eno finishing second in 1:08:09 and Gladys Chepkurui taking third in 1:08:23.
Since making her half marathon debut in 2024, Loibach has steadily established herself as a formidable force on the roads.
Her first outing over the distance came at the 2024 Cardiff Half Marathon, where she finished second in 1:07:16 behind Chebet, who won in 1:06:43. Caroline Nyaga completed the Kenyan podium sweep, taking third in 1:07:17.
Loibach returned to the distance in Hong Kong in January 2025, where she went one better to claim victory.
A month later, she secured another podium finish at the Meishan Half Marathon, clocking 1:06:31 to finish second behind Ethiopia’s Fikrte Wereta, who narrowly won in 1:06:28.
However, her subsequent outings over the distance have been more challenging.
In October 2025, she finished sixth at the New Delhi Half Marathon in 1:09:29 before placing seventh at the Boston Half Marathon the following month in 1:10:00.
Her only half marathon appearance so far this year came in Meishan, where she endured another difficult outing, finishing 14th in 1:11:37.
Despite her recent struggles over the half marathon distance, Loibach has maintained an impressive record on the roads across several other distances.
Over 15km, she has twice finished on the podium at the prestigious Boilermaker Road Race, winning the 2024 edition in 49:18 before returning in 2025 to finish second in 49:40.
She has also enjoyed considerable success over 10km, winning in Lille in 2024 in 30:27. In Boulder, she claimed victory in 2024 in 32:46 before successfully defending her title in 2025 with a time of 31:52.
Over 5km, Loibach has further demonstrated her speed, winning in Drammen in 2024 in 15:34 before finishing second at the Boston 5km in 2025 in 14:55.
Meanwhile, Chebet heads into Sunday’s contest following a mixed 2026 campaign, combining impressive road victories with competitive performances on the track.
Her season began with a seventh-place finish at the Valencia 10K in January, where she clocked 30:08. She bounced back in March to win the Yangzhou Half Marathon in 1:06:27.
She subsequently finished seventh in the 10,000m at the Commonwealth Games in July, clocking 32:12.97, before returning to winning ways at the Cali 10K in August, where she triumphed in 31:50.
Her most recent road outing came at the Valencia Half Marathon on October 25, where she finished ninth in 1:05:39.
Kefale, meanwhile, arrives in Hong Kong in encouraging form after finishing runner-up at the Cardiff Half Marathon on October 4 in 1:05:54.
