Running News Daily

The streets of Daegu are set for another spectacle of endurance and speed this Sunday, February 22, as the 2026 Daegu Marathon assembles a field rich in pedigree and ambition. At the center of it all stands Tanzania’s premier long-distance force, Gabriel Geay, who returns with one clear objective — to defend the crown he claimed in emphatic fashion last year.

Armed with a staggering personal best of 2:03:00, Geay enters the race not merely as the reigning champion, but as the benchmark. His résumé places him among the fastest marathoners of his generation, and his efficiency over 42.195 kilometers has consistently demonstrated a rare blend of tactical intelligence and sustained aggression. Daegu’s flat and historically quick course appears tailor-made for his rhythm, yet defending a title is often a sterner challenge than winning it the first time.

Standing in his path are two formidable East African rivals eager to disrupt his reign.

Kenya’s Stephen Kiprop arrives with a personal best of 2:07:04. Though numerically slower on paper, Kiprop represents the relentless depth of Kenyan distance running — disciplined, strategic, and capable of surging when the race begins to fracture in its decisive stages. Championships are rarely won on statistics alone, and Kiprop’s competitive maturity could transform him into a serious threat if the contest becomes tactical.

Equally dangerous is Ethiopia’s Chimdesa Debele Gudeta, whose 2:04:44 lifetime best signals genuine world-class credentials. Gudeta possesses the kind of speed endurance that can destabilize even the strongest frontrunner. Should the pace escalate early, he has the credentials to match it — and perhaps exceed it — in the unforgiving final kilometers.

The narrative unfolding in Daegu is therefore more than a title defense. It is a clash of contrasting strengths: Geay’s proven dominance, Kiprop’s calculated resilience, and Gudeta’s formidable pace capacity. With three athletes boasting elite credentials, the 2026 edition promises a contest that could be dictated by courage as much as conditioning.

As dawn breaks over South Korea on race day, one certainty prevails — the margins will be razor thin, the pace uncompromising, and the battle for supremacy fiercely contested. Whether Gabriel Geay consolidates his authority or a new champion rises, the 2026 Daegu Marathon is poised to deliver a performance worthy of the global stage.