RUNNING HISTORY HAS BEEN REWRITTEN AGAIN! | YOMIF KEJELCHA SETS NEW WORLD RECORD

 

Yomif Kejelcha has just broken the world half marathon record in Buenos Aires, winning in an incredible 56:51 (2'41/km or 4'19"/mile) 

The Ethiopian took a massive 29 seconds off Jacob Kiplimo’s previous record of 57:20, set in Lisbon, and reclaimed his place as the fastest man in history over 21K.

Kejelcha also smashed the course record, which was previously held by Kiplimo at 58:29.

And on the way to this incredible record, Kejelcha also set the fastest-ever 15K split, passing through 15K in 40:39. The previous best was also Kiplimo’s, at 40:42.

- The Running Week

NELSON MANDELA MARATHON 2026

 

MARATHON RECORD-BREAKER SEBASTIAN SAWE GIFTED A CAR BY KENYAN PRESIDENT AS HE RETURNS HOME TO HERO'S WELCOME

Sabastian Sawe has returned to Kenya following his historic run at the London Marathon

President William Ruto with record breaking marathoner Sebastian Sawe in State House, Nairobi on April 30, 2026.

Sabastian Sawe, the first athlete to officially break the two-hour barrier in a marathon, has been welcomed home to Kenya with a hero’s reception, including a water cannon salute for his arriving aircraft.

The record-breaker was subsequently awarded $61,000 (£45,000) and a new car by the president.

Mr Sawe’s return on Wednesday saw him greeted by his parents and Sports Minister Salim Mvurya, who lauded the runner’s achievement at the London Marathon as "a win for Kenya."

On Thursday, President William Ruto hosted a formal ceremony, describing Mr Sawe’s victory as "a defining moment in the history of human endurance."

During the event, Mr Sawe presented President Ruto with an autographed Adidas Adizero shoe, worn during Sunday’s race, along with a signed photograph commemorating his world record moment.

Sawe was given a hero's welcome (Getty)

Mr Sawe made history on Sunday by completing the marathon in an astonishing 1 hour, 59 minutes, and 30 seconds, shaving 65 seconds off the previous men’s world record.

Upon his arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, he expressed his pride at having "made a great achievement in life" and vowed to "try and lower the record further."

The athlete was adorned with a traditional wreath of twigs, symbolising victory, as traditional dancers celebrated his return. He was then escorted into a luxury government vehicle, part of the "heroic welcome" orchestrated by the sports minister.

His parents shared their long-held belief in their son’s destiny for greatness. His mother, Emily Sawe, recalled his childhood speed: "He would run too fast. So, I would say to myself, this boy will shine for me one day."

His father, Simion Kiplagat Sawe, recounted the tension of watching Sunday’s race due to a poor television signal.

"The moment my son pulled in front, I walked out and didn’t see him finish the race. I watched the replay afterwards. I was so happy, extremely happy. We screamed so much that now it is hard to swallow anything," he said.

Sawe’s introduction to professional running came through his uncle, Abraham Chepkirwok, an 800-metre Olympian for Uganda at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Having won the Valencia Marathon in 2024 with a time of 2:02:05, Sawe entered Sunday’s London race as the defending champion.

His father affirmed his son’s unwavering determination, stating: "Even now, he still says that record was not enough; he wants to lower it further."

- Evelyne Musambi

LONDON MARATHON 2026

 

LONDON MARATHON ELITE MEN | FULL PRESS CONFERENCE

 

LONDON MARATHON | HISTORIC MARATHON | NEW WORLD RECORD

 

SHARON LOKEDI DEFENDS HER BISTON MARATHON TITLE | SPLIT TIMES

 

DAEGU MARATHON 2026

 

ROMBO MARATHON 2025

 

BEER LOVERS MARATHON | BELGIUM

CHICAGO MARATHON WINNERS KIPLIMO, FEYSA EARN $100K IN PRIZE MONEY

Elite runners target the Chicago Marathon for record attempts because of the often-favorable weather and the flat course.
ILLUSTRATION BY SPORTICO, PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES

In his second-ever marathon, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s pro race at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, covering the 26.2 miles in 2:02:23. This was a personal best time by more than a minute for Kiplimo, who’s sponsored by Nike, and the seventh-fastest men’s marathon time ever.

It was also the second-fastest time ever run in Chicago behind the late Kelvin Kiptum, who won the 2023 Chicago Marathon in a world-record 2:00:35. 

Kenyan Amos Kipruto, sponsored by Adidas, finished in second in an unofficial 2:03:52, followed by countryman Alex Masai, a Nike athlete, in 2:04:37. American Conner Mantz, also sponsored by Nike, finished fourth in 2:04:43, breaking Khalid Khannouchi’s American men’s marathon record of 2:05:38.

“[Breaking the American men’s marathon record] was a great feeling,” Mantz said on the NBC5 Chicago broadcast after the race. “Those last few miles were really tough. Even with a few miles to go, I started doing the math about what pace I needed [to maintain to get the record]. Fortunately I got to work with Alex Masai those last 10 miles. … Unfortunately, I couldn’t beat him, but he got third place, first podium finish, big PR for him.”

Kiplimo will take home $100,000 for his win. Kipruto takes $75,000 for second place, and Masai earns $50,000. Mantz will get $30,000 for his fourth-place finish plus an additional $15,000 in prize money for being the top American finisher.

Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa, sponsored by Adidas, won the women’s pro race at the 47th Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:14:56. Feysa ran side-by-side with Magdalena Shauri of Tanzania through the first 25 kilometers, but by the 30K mark, Feysa had opened up about a 10-second gap on the rest of the field. The Ethiopian continued to add to her lead, crossing the line two-plus minutes faster than countrywoman Megertu Alemu, who got second in 2:17:18. Shauri rounds out the women’s podium with a 2:18:03 finish.

“Winning here has been amazing. I worked really hard, I trained really hard to have this victory,” Feysa said after the race through a translator. “My coach has been extremely instrumental in this training block.He has given me really hard training that has helped me.”

Feysa earned $100,000 for her win, with $75,000 and $50,000 going to Alemu and Shauri, respectively, for their finishes.

Natosha Rogers was the top U.S. woman, finishing sixth overall in 2:23:28, a personal-best time. The 34-year-old Rogers was followed by fellow Americans Dakotah Popehn and Gabi Rooker in seventh and eighth. While they miss out on overall prize money, which only goes to the top five men’s and women’s finishers, the three women will take home $15,000, $12,000 and $10,000 for their finishes as the top Americans.

“Every ounce of everything you have goes into this to get to the start line, let alone the finish line, let alone finish as top American,” Rogers, who is sponsored by Puma, said post-race. “So much of it is mental, mind over matter.”

In the men’s wheelchair race, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug opened up a 93-second lead by the halfway mark and didn’t let up, breaking the tape in 1:23:20, four minutes and a full mile ahead of Great Britain’s David Weir in second. Hug’s time was less than a minute off of his Chicago Marathon course record of 1:22:37, set in 2023. 

“It was pretty tough, chasing for a course record,” Hug said after the race. “I was trying very hard, and I went all in. The last 10K, I was too tired.”

This was Hug’s fourth straight Chicago Marathon win and his sixth ever, making him the most decorated men’s wheelchair racer in Chicago Marathon history. “That was not in my mind, to be honest, but to beat this record is incredible,” he said. “It really means a lot to me.”

After leading for the duration of the race, American Susannah Scaroni won the women’s wheelchair race in 1:38:14, her second Chicago Marathon victory. Behind her, Switzerland’s Manuela Schär and American Tatyana McFadden crossed the line in 1:39:03 and 1:39:04 for second and third, respectively, in a sprint finish. 

Scaroni struggled in last year’s race with a flat tire at mile 3, so this year’s win provided redemption. “When I got to mile 3 today, I felt like, ‘We’re making it!’” Scaroni said post-race.

Hug and Scaroni will each receive $40,000 in prize money for their wins. Weir and Schär each earn $30,000 for second. Third through sixth places also take home prize money.

The total prize purse for the 2025 Chicago Marathon is $908,000, up from $890,000 in 2023 but down from $913,000 in 2024. This year, the winners of the Masters men’s and women’s divisions receive $2,000 each; in 2024, the second and third place masters runners took home a prize bonus as well, something not given this year. (The Chicago Marathon did not return an email request for comment on the reduction in prize money.)

Additionally, the top five runners receive points toward the Abbott World Marathon Majors elite series. At the end of the cycle, which ends with the New York City Marathon next month, the three runners with the most points will receive a prize bonus.

- BETTE CANTER

UGANDA'S JACOB KIPLIMO STUNS KENYAN DUO TO WIN 2025 BANK OF AMERICA CHICAGO MARATHON

Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo dominated the race from the 35 kilometer mark before going on to cross the finish line of the 2025 Chicago Marathon first in 2:02:23.

ATHLETICS
UGANDA'S JACOB KIPLIMO STUNS KENYAN DUO TO WIN

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo delivered a masterclass on the streets of Chicago to win the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, clocking an astonishing 2:02:23 — a new personal best — and firmly stamping his authority among the world’s greatest distance runners.

The 24-year-old Ugandan, better known for his exploits over the half marathon, outclassed a star-studded field that included multiple world medallists from Kenya and Ethiopia. 

In doing so, he shattered his previous marathon best by over a minute, signalling his seamless transition to the full 42.195 kilometres.

How Race Unfolded

The men’s elite pack exploded off the start line at a blistering pace, hitting the 5km mark in 13:58, led by an all-Kenyan contingent of John Korir, Timothy Kiplagat, Amos Kipruto, Philemon Kiplimo Kimaiyo, and Jacob Kiplimo, who was then listed as Kenyan in early race data.

By the halfway mark, the lead quintet went through in 1:00:16, maintaining a predicted finish time of just above the two-hour barrier — dangerously close to world record territory.

At 25km, Korir and Kiplimo began to separate from the rest of the field, clocking 1:11:12, with Kipruto trailing by ten seconds. 

The two then exchanged surges, but it was Kiplimo who decisively broke away shortly after 30km, producing a devastating burst that left even the seasoned Kenyans unable to respond.

By 35km, the Ugandan had built a commanding 70-second lead and was still running on near world-record pace, clocking 1:39:53 to Kipruto’s 1:41:05. Though he slowed slightly in the final miles, his effort was enough to finish more than a minute clear of his nearest rival.

He crossed the line in 2:02:23, the second-fastest time ever recorded on American soil, and a mark that will resonate across the global marathon circuit.

Kenyans Settle For Second and Third

Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, the 2022 London Marathon champion, finished second in 2:03:54, while compatriot Alex Masai surged late to claim third in 2:04:37.

American Conner Mantz delighted the home crowd by finishing fourth in 2:04:43, breaking Khalid Khannouchi’s 23-year-old American record of 2:05:38. In a touching moment, Khannouchi — the Chicago legend — was on hand to congratulate Mantz at the finish line.

- Mark Kinyanjui 

TANZANIAN KAZAURA & MRAMBA REPRESENTED WELL AT 2025 BERLIN MARATHON

 

CLOSEST FINISH IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MARATHON HISTORY AS ALPHONCE SIMBU SNATHES GOLD IN TOKYO

Brutal conditions and a race of pure attrition gave way to a dramatic sprint finish in the final meters between Simbu and Germany's Amanal Petros.

The men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo produced one of the most dramatic finishes in history, with Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu winning gold in a photo finish after a furious sprint to the line.

Both Simbu and Germany’s Amanal Petros were officially credited with the same finishing time of 2:09:48, with Simbu edging ahead by the smallest of margins after a desperate lean in the final meters on the track inside Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium. Italy’s Iliass Aouani completed the podium, taking bronze in 2:09:53.

Brutal Conditions Test the Field

Like the women’s race the previous day, the men’s marathon started at 7:30 a.m. local time under punishing conditions. Temperatures were already 26°C (79°F) at the start, with high humidity and full sun making for a grueling challenge over the 42.195-kilometer course.

For much of the race, a large lead pack of up to 36 runners set a steady pace, with championship racing tactics taking precedence over any time goals. But the race began to fracture on the hilly section near the 37-kilometer mark, where the relentless conditions and surging pace created a war of attrition.

Down to Five, Then Three

The lead group began dispatching of many of the pre-race favorites, with the entire Ethiopian team eventually dropping out, and the Kenyans fading badly in the second half.

The lead pack gradually whittled down to just five athletes as the race approached the final stages, before narrowing to just three men entering the stadium for the final lap on the track: Simbu, Petros, and Aouani.

Petros, the former German record holder, appeared poised for victory as he surged ahead entering the home straight, opening a small gap on Simbu. Aouani, a few steps behind, was fading slightly but still in medal position.

A Finish for the Ages

With less than 10 meters to go, Simbu produced a remarkable final burst of speed, drawing level with Petros just as the pair crossed the line together. Petros fell dramatically to the track in exhaustion, while Simbu, leaning hard at the tape, was awarded the victory after a tense photo finish review.

Both athletes were credited with the same time, 2:09:48, the closest finish ever recorded in a World Championship marathon. Aouani secured bronze in 2:09:53, five seconds off the lead.

The race marked a career-defining moment for Simbu, who had previously earned bronze at the 2017 World Championships but had never before taken gold at a major global event.

In all, 22 of the 90 runners DNFed, with two not starting the race, making the attrition rate 25%.

Results of men's marathon 

- Michael Doyle

HASPA MARATHON | HAMBURG 2025

 

BOSTON MARATHON 2025 | FULL RACE

JOHN KORIR, OF KENYA BECOMES SECOND BOSTON MARATHON WINNER IN HIS FAMILY

 

JOHN KORIR OBLITERATES STRONG FIELD TO RETURN BOSTON MARATHON TITLE TO KENYA

John Korir won the 2025 Boston Marathon after destroying the field.

John Korir ran a solo race to win the 2025 Boston Marathon title and emulate his brother Wesley Korir who won the race in 2012.

John Korir emulated his brother by becoming a Boston Marathon champion when he destroyed a strong field to win the 2025 edition of the race in the third fastest finish in the race’s history.

The Kenyan took off after the 30km and never looked back, leaving his rivals by a big gap, before he went on to win the race in a time of 2:04:45 and join his brother Wesley Korir, who won the race in 2012.

Korir had no equals when he took off and remained unchallenged for the second part of the race as he returned the Boston Marathon title to Kenya following Sissay Lemma’s win in 2024.

It was an East African affair as Tanzania's Alphonce Simbu finished second in 2:05:04 while CyBrian Kotut of Kenya completed the podium in 2:05:04.

- Joel Omotto 

NORTH KOREA HOLD FIRST PYONGYANG MARATHON IN SIX YEARS

 

RUNNERS HIT THE STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA FOR THE ANNUAL LOVE RUN HALF MARATHON AND 7K