Running News Daily

Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich, the 2012 Olympic and 2013 world champion, will take on Bidan Karoki and defending champion Yemane Tsegaye at the 71st annual Fukuoka Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, on December 3 in Fukuoka, Japan.

The Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon is building toward its golden anniversary with a field worthy of the occasion. With two years remaining until its 50th edition, organizers have assembled the fastest elite lineup in the event’s history for Sunday’s 48th running.

Four men bring personal bests under 2:06, while three women have broken 2:20—a first for a race that has never previously featured a woman with a sub-2:20 personal best.

The world’s only intercontinental marathon takes runners from Asia to Europe. Türkiye’s largest marathon is also a World Athletics Gold Label Road Race, combining elite competition with one of the sport’s most distinctive settings.

“An exciting race awaits us in both the men’s and women’s categories. Including races at shorter distances the Türkiye Is Bankasi Istanbul Marathon will bring together over 45,000 participants from 143 different countries. We are proud to host such a celebration of sports,” said Race Director Bilge Donuk.

Women’s Race: Korir Leads a Record-Setting Field

Kenya’s Judith Korir, the 2022 World Championships marathon silver medalist, leads the women’s field with a personal best of 2:18:20. Ethiopia’s Azmera Abreha follows at 2:18:33, with compatriot Kasanesh Baze bringing a best of 2:19:39.

Eritrea’s Dolshi Tesfu adds further depth with her 2:20:40 best. Turkish record holder Sultan Haydar, who ran 2:21:27 in Valencia three years ago, returns to Istanbul, where she finished third in 2013.

The strength of the field leaves defending champion Bizuager Aderra only ninth on the list by personal best. The Ethiopian won last year in 2:26:19, which remains her fastest marathon.

But Aderra is focused on defending her title.

“I will try to win again. I am ready and I have trained well in Addis Ababa,” said the 30-year-old. “The final section of the course is not easy. It is probably an advantage to know it.”

For Korir, Sunday offers an opportunity to reestablish herself after an extended injury setback. She enjoyed outstanding seasons in 2022 and 2023, winning the 2022 Paris Marathon, earning world silver in Eugene and finishing fourth in London in 2:18:43. She returned to London the following year and placed sixth.

“I got a hamstring injury which hampered me for around two years,” Korir said.

She finished eighth at this spring’s Milano Marathon in 2:26:48, a result that fell short of her expectations and prompted a change.

“After the Milano race I changed my set-up and moved my training base from Iten to Kaptagat, where I have strong training partners,” said Korir, who usually returns to Iten on weekends to see her husband and 13-year-old son.

“I am in good form now and look forward to Sunday.”

Men’s Race: Four Sub-2:06 Runners Target Istanbul Glory

Ethiopia’s Sufaro Woliyi heads the men’s field with a personal best of 2:04:35, set in Seoul this spring. Compatriot Amdework Walelegn follows at 2:04:50, ahead of Kenya’s Philimon Kipchumba at 2:05:35 and Ethiopia’s Dejene Debela at 2:05:46.

Istanbul also welcomed four sub-2:06 men two years ago, but this year’s leading quartet brings faster personal bests.

Debela combines speed with valuable course experience. The Ethiopian won in Istanbul two years ago and finished runner-up last year. His personal best dates to the 2019 Chicago Marathon.

“Compared to last year I am in much better form,” said Debela, who has not raced this year while recovering from injury. “The problem was that I got a muscle injury and it took long to recover.”

He believes the course record of 2:09:44, set in 2019, could be within reach.

“I am in the shape to run sub 2:10 in Istanbul. But a major factor is the weather. If conditions are fine we should break it,” Debela said.

Woliyi also knows what it takes to contend on Istanbul’s challenging course. He finished third last year, just 14 seconds behind Kenya’s Rhonzas Kilimo.

“My training went very well, I am in the best shape of my life. I hope that this time I will be the number one,” said Woliyi, who lives and trains in Asala, Ethiopia.

His breakthrough performance in Seoul makes him the fastest entrant, but his rivals’ experience and the demands of the course promise a competitive race.

Türkiye’s Hüseyin Can will also be one to watch. He helped push the pace last year and was rewarded with fifth place and a then-personal best of 2:10:58. He returns having improved to 2:10:03.

How to Watch

The marathon starts at 9:00 a.m. local time Sunday, with a livestream available through the official race website⁠.

 

 

Elite Runners with Personal Bests

 

MEN:

Sufaro Woliyi ETH 2:04:35

Amdework Walelegn ETH 2:04:50

Philimon Kipchumba KEN 2:05:35

Dejene Debela ETH 2:05:46

Silas Too         KEN 2:06:32

Douglass Kiprugut  KEN 2:06:40

Francis Langat KEN 2:07:29

Benard Kipkorir KEN 2:08:12

Vincent Ronoh KEN 2:08:32

Shadrack Kenduiywo KEN 2:09:56

Hüseyin Can TUR 2:10:03

Samuel Lomoi         KEN 2:10:21

Paul Tiongik KEN 2:10:25

Yavuz Agrali  TUR 2:10:41

Gemechu Yadesa  ETH 2:10:54

 

WOMEN:

Judith Korir KEN 2:18:20

Azmera Abreha ETH 2:18:33

Kasanesh Baze ETH 2:19:39

Dolshi Tesfu ERI 2:20:40

Sultan Haydar         TUR 2:21:27

Veronicah Maina KEN 2:24:14

Alemtsehay Asefa ETH 2:24:42

Flomena Chepkiach KEN 2:25:41

Bizuager Aderra ETH 2:26:19

Everlyn Kemboi KEN Debut

Diribe Alemu ETH Debut

Meaza Asefa ETH Debut

 

World Athletics has given running a new home — and placed one of the sport’s most experienced event leaders at the heart of it.

The global governing body has established a standalone Running & Mass Participation department, a major organisational move designed to give greater focus to the rapidly expanding running ecosystem. At its helm is Jakob Larsen, a veteran sports executive whose résumé already includes some of the most significant running events staged under the World Athletics banner.

Larsen arrives with 25 years of experience across international sport and has played a central role in developing and delivering major championships. His previous work includes the 2014 World Half Marathon Championships in Copenhagen, the 2019 World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus and, most recently, the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.

Those experiences give Larsen a particularly strong platform for his new assignment. Rather than building the running side of the sport from the ground up, he inherits a global movement that is already enormous — one that stretches from elite marathoners chasing world records to mass-participation runners filling city streets across the world.

The new department will have responsibility for a broad portfolio covering World Athletics’ road running and marathon activities, cross country, mountain and trail running, the World Athletics Label Road Races programme, regulation, technical and educational services, and the development of new partnerships across technology, data and the wider running industry.

That portfolio also includes the newly established RUN X™ World Treadmill Championship, reflecting how far the definition of competitive running is continuing to expand beyond the traditional racecourse.

The scale of the road-running network alone underlines the importance of the move. The World Athletics Label Road Races calendar features races across continents, ranging from major marathons and half marathons to shorter international road races. The programme includes some of the biggest names in the sport, from Boston and London to Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo and New York.

For World Athletics, the decision is therefore about much more than changing an organisational chart. It signals recognition that running has developed into one of the sport’s most powerful global platforms, connecting elite competition with millions of recreational and mass-participation runners.

And with Larsen now leading the new department, World Athletics is placing that responsibility in the hands of someone who has already demonstrated an ability to build major events, manage complex international projects and understand where the future of running may be heading.

The challenge now is to bring all those strands together — elite road racing, mass participation, championships, trail and mountain running, technology and new forms of competition — under one coordinated vision.

Running has never been bigger. Now, World Athletics is giving it the organisational structure to match.

Noah Lyles has never been the kind of athlete to whisper his ambitions. He speaks with conviction, carries himself with unmistakable confidence and has never been afraid to tell the world exactly what he believes he can achieve.

For some, that confidence can be polarising. For Lyles, it has become part of his identity—and, more importantly, part of the fuel behind an extraordinary career.

The American sprint star has repeatedly embraced the pressure that comes with being one of the biggest personalities in athletics. He understands that when you talk boldly, the spotlight becomes brighter and expectations become heavier. But Lyles has consistently chosen to step into that spotlight rather than hide from it.

At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, that belief reached one of its most memorable moments. Lyles captured gold in the men's 100 metres in a dramatic photo finish, clocking 9.784 seconds and edging Kishane Thompson by just five thousandths of a second. It was the first Olympic 100m title of his career and confirmation that his confidence was backed by world-class ability.

But Lyles' story extends far beyond a single Olympic medal. His career has been built on ambition, resilience and an unwavering belief that he belongs among the sport's greatest performers. From the 100m to the 200m, he has developed into one of the defining sprinters of his generation.

What makes his journey particularly compelling, however, is the person behind the medals. Elite athletes are not machines. They carry pressure, expectations, doubts and personal battles alongside their talent. Lyles has been open about the challenges that come with competing at the highest level, showing that strength is not simply about winning races—it is also about continuing to move forward when things become difficult.

His personality has made him impossible to ignore, but his performances have ensured that the words are backed by action. Every time Lyles steps onto the track, there is an expectation that something significant could happen.

That is perhaps the biggest lesson from his journey: confidence does not guarantee an easy road. It simply gives you the courage to keep walking it.

Noah Lyles dared to dream loudly. Then he stepped onto the track and started proving those dreams were possible. 

Conner Mantz heads into Sunday’s TCS New York City Marathon with a clear ambition: to be right there with the leading pack when the race reaches its decisive stages.

The 29-year-old American is not simply hoping to survive the demanding New York course. He intends to remain among the strongest contenders deep into the race, and he already has a few names in mind when it comes to the athletes he expects to be alongside him.

One of them is Benson Kipruto, the reigning New York City Marathon champion and one of the most consistent marathoners in the world.

“Benson will be there,” Mantz said. “I feel like he’s always there.”

It is difficult to argue with that assessment. Kipruto has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to remain competitive deep into major marathons, making him one of the runners Mantz expects to see when the race begins to take shape.

Mantz also singled out Andreas Almgren, who will make his highly anticipated marathon debut in New York.

“It’s hard to bet against Almgren,” Mantz said, highlighting the Swedish star’s extraordinary range and strength as he steps up to the 42.195-kilometre distance for the first time.

Another athlete on Mantz’s radar is Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta, who has already established himself as a formidable force over the marathon distance.

“I imagine Deresa will be there,” Mantz added.

But the most intriguing matchup could involve another American: Zouhair Talbi.

Talbi arrives in New York with impressive credentials of his own. He was the top American at the Boston Marathon and has established himself as one of the fastest marathoners in U.S. history. Mantz, however, is hoping that when the race reaches its closing stages, he will once again have the edge over his compatriot.

“Hopefully I’m a little ahead of him at that point,” Mantz said.

There is already some history between the two Americans. In their previous race together, Mantz and Talbi remained locked together until roughly 600 metres from the finish, when the battle was finally decided. New York could provide another chapter in that developing rivalry, only this time with a major marathon title at stake.

Mantz’s credentials explain why he believes he belongs in the lead-pack conversation. He has already finished inside the top eight at an Olympic Games, won two national titles and recorded five top-eight finishes at major marathons. He has also represented the United States at the World Road Running Championships, giving him valuable experience on some of the biggest stages in the sport.

His marathon progression has been particularly impressive. On October 12, 2025, Mantz clocked 2:04:43 to set the American record and national record, confirming his status as one of the fastest marathoners the United States has ever produced. That breakthrough transformed him from a promising distance runner into a genuine contender on the global marathon stage.

His versatility extends well beyond the marathon, too. Mantz is ranked among the world’s leading athletes in the 10,000 metres and road running, while also sitting inside the global top 60 for the marathon. His combination of speed, endurance and championship experience makes him a dangerous competitor on a course as unpredictable and demanding as New York.

And that is precisely why Mantz is not looking merely to be part of the field on Sunday. He wants to be part of the race.

If his prediction proves correct, Mantz could find himself surrounded by Kipruto, Almgren, Geleta and Talbi as the marathon enters its most critical miles. From there, patience, positioning and the ability to handle the brutal closing stages of New York could determine who remains standing in the fight for victory.

For Mantz, the message is clear: he does not intend to wait for the race to come to him. He plans to be there when the battle begins. 

Only two men have ever won five of the Abbott World Marathon Majors: Eliud Kipchoge and Wilson Kipsang.

On Sunday, Benson Kipruto will have the opportunity to make that exclusive list even more Kenyan.

The 35-year-old already has four Major victories to his name, with triumphs in Tokyo, Boston, Chicago and New York. His latest came in spectacular fashion last November, when he edged compatriot Alexander Mutiso by just three hundredths of a second in one of the closest finishes in New York City Marathon history. Both were officially timed at 2:08:09, but Kipruto was declared the winner after an extraordinary sprint to the line.

That victory was more than another trophy. It demonstrated Kipruto’s ability to remain composed when the pressure is at its highest, then produce the decisive move when victory is measured in inches. Now, he returns to the streets of New York carrying a different kind of pressure: the chance to join one of the most exclusive clubs in marathon running.

Defending a New York City Marathon title is never a simple task. The course demands patience, strength and tactical intelligence, while the depth of the elite field leaves almost no room for a bad moment. Kipruto will have to overcome a lineup packed with proven championship performers and several athletes capable of producing a breakthrough performance.

Among his biggest challengers is Ethiopia’s Deresa Geleta, who owns a 2:02:38 personal best, while Kenya’s CyBrian Kotut enters with a 2:03:22. American Conner Mantz brings a 2:04:43 national record to the start line, while former champions Geoffrey Kamworor and Abdi Nageeye add further experience to an already formidable field.

And then there is Andreas Almgren.

The Swedish star will make his marathon debut in New York after establishing himself as one of Europe’s most versatile distance runners. Almgren arrives as the European record-holder over 5,000m and half marathon and recently won the European 10,000m title in championship-record fashion. Rather than choosing an easier course for his first marathon, he has opted for the demanding streets of New York.

Kipruto, however, has already proved that he knows how to win on the biggest stages. His marathon personal best of 2:02:16 places him among the fastest men in the field, but his greatest weapon may be his racing experience. He has repeatedly shown that he can stay in contention deep into a race and deliver when the decisive moment arrives.

Now the equation is brutally simple.

Four Major victories have already established Kipruto among the elite of his generation. A fifth would move him alongside Kipchoge and Kipsang as only the third man in history to reach that milestone.

New York gave Kipruto one of the most dramatic victories of his career last year. On Sunday, the same streets could provide another defining chapter.

Can Benson Kipruto defend his New York title, conquer another world-class field and become only the third man ever to win five World Marathon Majors?