New york: Kirin Tantiwet, a prominent Thai national team runner and a three-time gold medalist at the 2025 SEA Games, has rewritten the record books by setting a new Thai national record for the half-marathon. Competing at the New York City Half Marathon 2026, Kirin completed the 21.1-kilometer race with an unofficial time of 1:02:39 hours, maintaining an impressive average pace of 2.58 kilometers per hour. This achievement not only secured him the 19th spot in the men's category but also marked him as the first Thai athlete to finish a half-marathon in under 1 hour and 3 minutes.
According to Thai News Agency, the previous national record was held by Nattawut Innum, who completed the distance in 1:05:19 hours. Kirin's remarkable performance at the New York City Half Marathon has set a new benchmark for Thai athletes and highlighted his potential on the international stage.