Running News Daily

The 47th Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon takes place this Sunday, November 2, 2025, drawing top international athletes to one of the world’s most scenic and competitive races. A World Athletics Gold Label event, the marathon is famous for its cross-continental course that starts in Asia, crosses the Bosphorus Bridge, and finishes in Europe.

Elite Headliners

Defending champion Dejene Debela and fellow Ethiopian Tigst Getnet lead this year’s elite fields. Debela’s personal best is 2:05:46, while Getnet’s stands at 2:23:17. Both are eager to add another title to Ethiopia’s long tradition of marathon dominance.

The men’s and women’s races are deep with talent. Half a dozen men have run between 2:05:30 and 2:09:00, and six women enter with times under 2:26:00. Around 6,000 marathoners will race the full distance, joined by tens of thousands more in shorter events — totaling over 42,000 runners.

“Since Istanbul is a candidate for the 2036 Olympic Games, our marathon has an important role to play,” said Race Director Bilge Donuk.

The Men’s Race

Dejene Debela returns to defend his title after winning in windy conditions last year. “It was very windy last year, so this time I hope for a much faster time,” he said. The 30-year-old Ethiopian, who trains in Addis Ababa, set his PB of 2:05:46 in Chicago (2019) and has since overcome injuries that slowed his progress.

Organizers expect pacemakers to target 63:30–63:45 at halfway — a pace Debela says fits his goal. He has raced sparingly this year, dropping out of the Wuxi Marathon in March as a precaution but now says he feels “ready to defend my title.”

Among his challengers are Rhonzas Kilimo (KEN, 2:06:09) and Ethiopia’s Sufaro Woliyi, just 22, who impressed with a 2:07:19 debut in Xiamen. Kenya’s Benard Kipkorir, fourth here last year, recently clocked 2:08:12 in Chongqing and could also contend.

Kenya’s Denis Chirchir was forced to withdraw with a stress fracture, while New Zealand’s Jake Robertson is sidelined by injury.

The Women’s Race

Two Ethiopian training partners — Tigst Getnet and Sofia Assefa — headline the women’s field. Both train under Kirubel Damtew in Addis Ababa. Getnet’s best is 2:23:17, while Assefa’s stands at 2:23:33.

Sofia Assefa, 37, is a former world-class steeplechaser who won Olympic silver in 2012 and World Championship bronze in 2013. After a promising marathon debut in Amsterdam, she placed second in Copenhagen this May with 2:26:21 and says she’s now in even better form.

Her training partner Tigst Getnet, 15 years younger, has already completed six marathons. Her debut in Dubai (2023) remains her best, and she’ll look to return to that level in Istanbul.

Other notable contenders include Yenenesh Tilahun Dinkesa (2:24:09), Letebrhan Gebreslasea (2:24:47), and Roman Gidey (2:25:22), who ran two strong marathons within two weeks in Guangzhou last year. Kenya’s rising 21-year-old Joan Kilimo (2:25:32 debut in Milan) leads the Kenyan challenge.

Defending champion Ruth Jebet has withdrawn to compete in the Islamic Solidarity Games next week in Riyadh.

Top Elite Runners and Personal Bests

Men

Dejene Debela (ETH) – 2:05:46

Rhonzas Kilimo (KEN) – 2:06:09

Sufaro Woliyi (ETH) – 2:07:19

Benard Kipkorir (KEN) – 2:08:12

Isaac Too (KEN) – 2:08:45

Charles Mneria (KEN) – 2:08:54

Hillary Kipchumba (KEN) – 2:09:53

Women

Tigst Getnet (ETH) – 2:23:17

Sofia Assefa (ETH) – 2:23:33

Yenenesh Tilahun Dinkesa (ETH) – 2:24:09

Letebrhan Gebreslasea (ETH) – 2:24:47

Roman Gidey (ETH) – 2:25:22

Joan Kilimo (KEN) – 2:25:32