Running News Daily

A new fast German half marathon has emerged in the city of Mainz at the picturesque river Rhine. On Sunday morningboth course records were smashed at the Gutenberg Half Marathon Mainz and the men’s fight for victory ended in a spectacular and very rare dead race.

Debutant Benson Mutiso and fellow-Kenyan Victor Kimutai stormed over the finish line in 61:01 and neither with photos nor with video material it was possible to separate them. While both athletes shared victory Collins Kipkemboi followed in third with 61:38 and made it an all Kenyan podium.  

There was more success for Kenyan debutants in Mainz: Josephine Naukot won the race in 69:26 while Brenda Jepchirchir took second with 69:45. Both ran their first half marathon. Belgium’s Hanne Verbruggen took a fine third place with a personal best of 70:15. Once again she was inside the qualifying standard for the European Championships in Rome next month. 

The new focus on the half marathon distance turned out to be an immediate success for the event that was the former Mainz Marathon. The fine winning times propelled the race up into second place in the current German rankings of half marathons. Only the Berlin Half Marathon produced faster times in 2023 and 2024. “We have achieved the times we targeted and we showed that it is possible to run fast in Mainz. And there is quite some room for improvement,“ said Race Director Jo Schindler, who is also the Director of the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon. Including races at shorter distances organisers registered around 11,000 entries for the Gutenberg Half Marathon Mainz.

Benson Mutiso and Victor Kimutai took the lead after the 12k point and it was then mainly Mutiso who ran in the lead. However shortly before the finish Kimutai moved ahead. But Mutiso reacted and once they reached the line they were right next to each other. “I thought I was ahead,“ said Benson Mutiso, who had run a marathon before (2:09:21 in Munich last year), but never competed in a half marathon. “My next goal is to run a fast marathon in October. I would like to go to Frankfurt for that.“ Victor Kimutai as well thought that he was first over the line. “We know each other well since we train together in one group in Iten. So it is fine for us to share victory,“ said Kimutai who ran a personal best in Mainz with 61:01. Behind Collins Kipkemboi (61:38) fellow-Kenyan Patrick Kiprop took fourth place and also ran inside 62:00 minutes with 61:55.

In the women’s race Josephine Naukot already took the lead around the 13k mark. With 69:26 she was then well ahead of fellow-Kenyan Brenda Jepchirchir (69:45). “This was the best race of my career and my greatest victory,“ said Josephine Naukot. “My next goal is to run a time between 65 and 66 minutes. I would like to come back to Mainz next year and further improve the course record. I am not thinking about the marathon yet.“

Belgium’s Hanne Verbruggen showed another fine performance, improving her recent PB of 70:23 to 70:15. “I hoped to run sub 70:00, but I was on my own for large parts of the race. That made it difficult. My big goal is to break the Belgium half marathon record of 68:58“, said Hanne Verbruggen, who is now number three of the Belgium all-time list. Next month she will compete in the European Championships’ half marathon and then in the Olympic Games’ marathon in August. 

The top five women in Mainz all clocked personal bests in good weather conditions. Ethiopians Lelise Wakweya and Hadas Shimuye finished in fourth and fifth places with 71:17 and 72:39 respectively. “My impression after this race is that there is huge potential in Mainz. We can build on this,“ said Elite Race Coordinator Philipp Kopp.

Audrey Werro produced another extraordinary performance on home soil, holding off a fierce late charge from Femke Broeders-Bol to win a breathtaking women's 800m at the Lausanne Diamond League in a new meeting record of 1:55.33.

Fresh from becoming European 800m champion, Werro looked to be on course for a comfortable victory as she entered the final straight with a clear advantage. But the race exploded into a dramatic battle over the closing metres when Broeders-Bol unleashed a sensational finishing kick, clocking a remarkable 14.8 seconds for the final 100 metres compared with Werro's 15.4.

The Dutch star closed rapidly and came within touching distance of Werro, but the Swiss favourite had done enough to hold on, crossing the line just eight hundredths of a second ahead. Werro's winning time of 1:55.33 established a new meeting record and further strengthened her remarkable run of form.

Broeders-Bol finished second in a superb 1:55.41, and although she narrowly missed victory, she left Lausanne with a historic achievement of her own. Her performance shattered the Dutch women's 800m national record previously held by Ellen van Langen, marking one of the finest races of her career.

Eighteen-year-old Ethiopian talent Saida Tsehaye completed an outstanding podium, running a huge personal best of 1:56.92 to finish third. Her breakthrough performance underlined the extraordinary depth of the race and announced another exciting young force in women's middle-distance running.

Behind the leading trio, Switzerland's Veronica Vancardo finished fourth in 1:58.68, with compatriot Valentina Rosamilia fifth in 1:58.93. American Addison Wiley placed sixth in 1:59.22, while Kenya's Lilian Odira was seventh in 1:59.25.

For Werro, it was another unforgettable night in front of her home crowd. The European champion combined strength, confidence and composure to withstand one of the most explosive finishing charges of the season, while Broeders-Bol produced a national-record performance that came agonisingly close to victory.

In the end, Lausanne witnessed a race in which history was made at both ends of the finish line: Werro claimed the meeting record and another major victory, Broeders-Bol rewrote the Dutch record books, and teenage sensation Tsehaye announced herself on the world stage with a huge personal best.

The women's 800m is delivering exceptional racing in 2026—and this electrifying showdown in Lausanne was further proof that the event is hotter than ever.

The men’s 5000m at the Lausanne Diamond League produced one of the most electrifying distance races of the season, as six athletes broke the coveted 13-minute barrier in a breathtaking display of speed and depth.

Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew emerged victorious in a fiercely contested race, clocking 12:57.55 to secure a brilliant win against a world-class field. Balew held off relentless pressure behind him to claim the victory as the race exploded into a spectacular battle over the closing stages.

The United States produced an especially impressive performance, with Parker Wolfe leading a powerful American charge in second place. Wolfe crossed the line in a personal best of 12:58.20, while Nico Young followed closely in third with a season's best of 12:58.33. Graham Blanks made it three Americans in the top four, dipping under 13 minutes with 12:59.16.

Kenya’s Cornelius Kemboi added another sub-13-minute performance in fifth, clocking 12:59.33, while Ethiopia’s Mezgébu Sime completed the extraordinary group of six athletes under the historic barrier with 12:59.48 in sixth place.

The quality of the race was underlined by the fact that Ethiopia’s Kuma Girma, despite recording a season's best of 13:00.22, could finish only seventh. Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu took eighth in 13:00.73, followed by Ethiopia’s Kahiri Bejiga, who ran a personal best of 13:03.27.

Grant Fisher, one of the biggest names in the field, finished 11th in 13:07.74 on a night when the remarkable depth and pace of the competition left no room for error.

Lausanne has once again delivered a memorable night of distance running, with the men’s 5000m becoming a showcase of the extraordinary standard currently being produced on the track. Six men under 13 minutes in a single race was a powerful statement, while Balew's victory and the exceptional performances from the American trio ensured this was one of the standout races of the 2026 Diamond League season.

Top 10 finishers:

1. Birhanu Balew (Bahrain) — 12:57.55

2. Parker Wolfe (United States) — 12:58.20 PB

3. Nico Young (United States) — 12:58.33 SB

4. Graham Blanks (United States) — 12:59.16

5. Cornelius Kemboi (Kenya) — 12:59.33

6. Mezgébu Sime (Ethiopia) — 12:59.48

7. Kuma Girma (Ethiopia) — 13:00.22 SB

8. Dominic Lobalu (Switzerland) — 13:00.73

9. Kahiri Bejiga (Ethiopia) — 13:03.27 PB

10. Egide Ntakarutimana (Burundi) — 13:07.21

In a race packed with exceptional talent, Balew ultimately had the decisive finishing strength—but Lausanne's biggest story was the sheer depth of the performance, with six men racing beneath 13 minutes and turning the 5000m into an unforgettable Diamond League showdown.

Winfred Yavi delivered a statement performance at the Lausanne Diamond League, defeating reigning world champion Faith Cherotich in a thrilling women's 3000m steeplechase showdown and taking the lead in their increasingly compelling 2026 rivalry.

The Bahraini star, the 2024 Olympic steeplechase champion, led from the opening stages and never surrendered control, crossing the line in a meet record of 9:00.04. Cherotich, the reigning world champion, fought hard throughout but had to settle for second in 9:01.90.

The victory gave Yavi the upper hand in their head-to-head battles this season, with the Olympic champion now holding a 2-1 advantage over Cherotich in their three meetings in 2026.

For much of the race, Cherotich remained within striking distance of Yavi, staying close as the two stars negotiated the barriers at a relentless pace. However, Yavi refused to give her Kenyan rival an opportunity to take control, maintaining the lead and producing another powerful display when the pressure intensified in the closing stages.

It was a fascinating battle between two of the dominant figures in women's steeplechasing. The reigning Olympic champion against the reigning world champion lived up to expectations, and on this occasion, Yavi had the answers.

Tunisia's Marwa Bouzayani completed the podium in 9:05.55, while Kenya's Doris Lemngole finished fourth in 9:07.09. American Lexy Halladay rounded out the top five with a personal best of 9:08.35.

Yavi's winning time was not only enough to secure another important victory over her biggest rival but also established a new Lausanne meet record, underlining the exceptional standard of the race.

With Yavi now leading their season series 2-1, the rivalry between the Olympic champion and the world champion is becoming one of the most exciting battles in women's distance running. Lausanne belonged to Yavi, but Cherotich remains close enough to ensure that their next meeting could produce another spectacular contest.

Kenya has unveiled a formidable squad for the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships, with some of the country’s leading distance-running talents selected to represent the nation in Copenhagen, Denmark, on September 19–20.

The team features a blend of established international performers and emerging stars, underlining Kenya’s ambition to make a strong impact across the half marathon, 5km and one-mile races.

Leading the women’s half marathon team is Agnes Jebet Ngetich, one of the most accomplished young distance runners in the world. She will be joined by Daisilah Jerono, Veronica Loleo and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk as Kenya looks to challenge for the women’s team and individual honours.

The men’s half marathon squad is equally impressive, headlined by Daniel Simiu Ebenyo. The experienced Kenyan will line up alongside Michael Kiplagat Temoi, Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli and Gideon Kipkertich Rono, giving Kenya a powerful quartet capable of competing at the front of a championship field.

Kenya will also field two athletes in each of the 5km races. Charles Kiboino and Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang have been selected for the men’s event, while Caroline Makandi Gitonga and Caroline Nyaguthii Nyaga will carry Kenya’s hopes in the women’s race.

The one-mile races will provide another opportunity for Kenyan athletes to showcase the country’s renowned middle- and long-distance strength. Brian Komen and Daniel Kyumbe Munguti will represent Kenya in the men’s race, with Miriam Cherop and Naomi Korir selected for the women’s event.

With representation across all six individual races, Kenya heads to Copenhagen with a well-balanced squad and plenty of international experience. The championships will bring together the world’s leading road runners for two days of high-level competition, with Kenya once again expected to be among the nations fighting for medals.

For a country with such a rich tradition in distance running, the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships present another major stage for Kenyan athletes to demonstrate their speed, strength and championship racing ability on the streets of Copenhagen.

Team Kenya

Half Marathon – Men: Michael Kiplagat Temoi, Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, Gideon Kipkertich Rono, Daniel Simiu Ebenyo

Half Marathon – Women: Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Daisilah Jerono, Veronica Loleo, Lilian Kasait Rengeruk

5km – Men: Charles Kiboino, Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang

5km – Women: Caroline Makandi Gitonga, Caroline Nyaguthii Nyaga

One Mile – Men: Brian Komen, Daniel Kyumbe Munguti

One Mile – Women: Miriam Cherop, Naomi Korir

Kenya’s road-running stars now have their sights firmly set on Copenhagen, where they will look to turn the strength of the squad into medals and memorable performances on the world championship stage.

When thousands of runners line up in the heart of Sapporo on Sunday, August 30, 2026, they will be taking part in one of Japan’s most distinctive marathon traditions — a race where the battle is not only against the clock and the 42.195-kilometre distance, but also against the summer heat.

The Hokkaido Marathon traces its roots to 1987, when the inaugural race attracted just 439 entrants. Over nearly four decades, it has grown into a major international marathon, welcoming runners from Japan and around the world while maintaining its unique identity as one of the country’s few major summer marathons.

That summer setting is precisely what makes heat management such an important part of the Hokkaido Marathon experience.

The 2026 edition will begin at 8:30 a.m. from Odori Nishi 4-chome, with the course winding through some of Sapporo’s most recognisable landmarks, including Susukino and Hokkaido University. But while the atmosphere will be festive and competitive, organisers are urging athletes to treat heat-related illness with the utmost seriousness.

As one of Japan’s few marathons held during the summer, Hokkaido Marathon carries a heightened risk of heatstroke. Mild heat illness may improve with rest, cooling and appropriate hydration, but severe heatstroke can become life-threatening and demands rapid action to lower body temperature.

The organisers have therefore placed medical preparedness at the centre of the 2026 event. Since the 2022 Hokkaido Marathon, an ice-bath system has been available for emergency cooling — an approach also used during the marathon and race-walking competitions at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

If medical staff suspect severe heatstroke accompanied by impaired consciousness, a doctor may assess the athlete, including measuring rectal temperature when necessary. Where appropriate, the runner can be rapidly cooled using an ice bath before being transported to a medical facility.

For competitors, recognising the warning signs early could make all the difference.

Feeling dazed, unusually confused, mentally foggy or unable to remain fully alert during the race should never be dismissed as ordinary fatigue. Runners experiencing such symptoms are being urged not to force themselves forward. They should stop, rest and seek medical assistance.

The same responsibility applies to fellow runners and spectators. Anyone who notices a competitor appearing confused, disoriented or seriously unwell should immediately alert the nearest medical or first-aid team.

Hydration is another critical part of the organisers’ message — but the advice is not simply to drink as much water as possible.

Both insufficient sodium intake and excessive fluid consumption can contribute to hyponatremia, a potentially dangerous drop in blood sodium levels. Runners should therefore pay attention to both fluid and sodium replacement during the marathon rather than relying solely on water.

The race is also expanding its cooling measures in 2026. An ice distribution point will be available at approximately 13.2 kilometres, while new water-dousing points will be introduced at the end of selected aid stations. These facilities are designed to give runners additional opportunities to cool their bodies as the race progresses.

A cooling spray may also be carried and used as another practical measure against the heat.

Such precautions are particularly significant given the Hokkaido Marathon’s history. From its modest beginning in 1987, the event gradually established itself as an important testing ground for athletes preparing to compete in hot-weather conditions. Japanese and international elites have repeatedly used the race to test their endurance and heat tolerance, while the event has also welcomed some of the world's leading distance runners.

Today, the marathon combines that elite tradition with a huge mass-participation atmosphere. What started with fewer than 500 entrants has evolved into an event capable of attracting around 20,000 runners, turning Sapporo into a celebration of distance running each summer.

But the message for 2026 is clear: finishing the marathon is never more important than protecting your health.

For runners chasing personal bests, international athletes seeking victory and recreational participants simply hoping to complete the distance, knowing when to slow down, stop or seek help is part of racing intelligently.

On August 30, the streets of Sapporo will once again provide a spectacular stage for 42.195 kilometres of running. Yet beneath the excitement, the Hokkaido Marathon is sending an equally important message: run hard when your body allows it, cool down when necessary, stay alert to the heat and never ignore the warning signs.

After nearly four decades of history, the Hokkaido Marathon continues to evolve — and in 2026, protecting the runners who make that history possible is firmly at the heart of the race.