Running News Daily

The women-only marathon world record has remained in East African hands since 2017, with Kenya and Ethiopia trading the historic mark in a remarkable sequence of record-breaking performances.

The latest chapter belongs to Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who lowered the record to 2:15:41 at the 2026 London Marathon, taking nine seconds off her own previous mark of 2:15:50.

The progression began with Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, whose 2:17:42 in 2005 stood for 12 years before Kenya’s Mary Keitany finally brought the record down. Keitany clocked 2:17:01 at the 2017 London Marathon, beginning the current East African era of the women-only record.

Kenya strengthened its grip in 2024 when Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir produced one of the defining performances of her career in London. She ran 2:16:16, cutting 45 seconds from Keitany’s record and becoming the latest Kenyan to set the women-only marathon world record.

But the record did not remain in Kenya for long. At the 2025 London Marathon, Assefa produced a spectacular 2:15:50, improving Jepchirchir’s mark by 26 seconds and establishing herself as the latest Ethiopian custodian of the record.

A year later, Assefa returned to London with the record still in her sights. She delivered again, running 2:15:41 to successfully defend her title and extend her own world record by another nine seconds.

Behind her, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri ran a personal best of 2:15:53, while Joyciline Jepkosgei followed in 2:15:55. The extraordinary depth of the race meant three women finished inside 2:16 in the same marathon.

The rivalry between Kenya and Ethiopia has consequently become a defining feature of the modern women-only marathon record. Each breakthrough has raised the standard, creating an increasingly demanding target for the next generation of marathon stars.

It is also important to distinguish the women-only record from the overall women's marathon world record. A women-only race does not use male pacemakers, while mixed-gender races can have male athletes helping to maintain the pace. This distinction makes the progression of the women-only record a particularly interesting measure of women's marathon racing.

For now, the record progression reads:

Great Britain — Paula Radcliffe, 2:17:42 (2005)

Kenya — Mary Keitany, 2:17:01 (2017)

Kenya — Peres Jepchirchir, 2:16:16 (2024)

Ethiopia — Tigst Assefa, 2:15:50 (2025)

Ethiopia — Tigst Assefa, 2:15:41 (2026)

From Radcliffe’s landmark performance in 2005 to Assefa’s latest breakthrough in 2026, the record has undergone a remarkable transformation. Since Keitany ended Radcliffe’s 12-year reign, every improvement has come from either Kenya or Ethiopia, underlining the extraordinary depth of East African women’s marathon running.

And with the record now standing at 2:15:41, the next chapter is waiting to be written. The question is not only who will break the mark next, but how much further the women-only marathon can ultimately be pushed.

The women's marathon world record could come under serious pressure at the 2026 Valencia Marathon on December 6, with Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay, Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei and newly announced marathon debutant Agnes Jebet Ngetich among the major attractions in what promises to be a fascinating contest.

With three outstanding distance-running talents expected on the start line, attention will inevitably turn to Ruth Chepngetich's extraordinary world record of 2:09:56, set at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. The Kenyan made history by becoming the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier, but her remarkable achievement could face a formidable challenge on Valencia's famously fast streets.

Tesfay stands out as one of the strongest potential challengers. The Ethiopian produced a sensational marathon debut in Barcelona in March 2026, clocking 2:10:51 to record the second-fastest women's marathon performance in history. She finished just 55 seconds outside Chepngetich's world record, immediately establishing herself as a serious contender for the sport's greatest distance-running honour.

What makes her performance even more impressive is that it came in her first appearance over the marathon distance. With valuable experience now behind her, Tesfay could approach Valencia with greater confidence, improved tactical understanding and an even stronger belief in her ability to challenge the world record.

However, the arrival of Agnes Jebet Ngetich adds another exciting dimension to the women's race. The Kenyan distance-running sensation is set to make her highly anticipated marathon debut in Valencia, marking a significant new chapter in an already remarkable career.

Ngetich will arrive in Spain with an extraordinary collection of achievements, having established herself as the world 10km record-holder, world half-marathon champion and individual world cross-country champion. Her credentials across different distances underline the exceptional versatility and endurance that make her marathon transition particularly intriguing.

The Kenyan holds the women's 10km world record of 28:46 and has a half-marathon personal best of 1:03:04, a national record. Her impressive track credentials include 8:08.95 for 3,000m, 14:01.29 for 5,000m and 30:27.38 for 10,000m, while her road 5km best stands at 14:13.

These performances demonstrate the remarkable speed and strength Ngetich brings to the marathon distance. However, the 42.195km challenge presents a completely different examination of endurance, race management and tactical discipline. Valencia will provide the first opportunity to see how her exceptional shorter-distance ability translates over the full marathon.

Although she will be making her debut, Ngetich cannot be overlooked in a field featuring some of the world's finest distance runners. Kenyan fans will be particularly eager to see whether she can make an immediate impact and possibly challenge for victory on her first attempt.

Kenya will also have another major contender in Joyciline Jepkosgei, who is expected to return to defend her Valencia Marathon title after winning the 2025 edition in 2:14:00. The former world half-marathon record-holder possesses the experience and endurance to provide a formidable challenge, while her familiarity with the course could prove particularly valuable.

A competitive front-running group involving Tesfay, Jepkosgei and potentially Ngetich could produce an exceptionally fast race. Having several athletes capable of pushing the pace would create favourable conditions for a serious assault on the world record, provided the race unfolds as anticipated.

Another major advantage is the Valencia course itself. Widely regarded as one of the fastest marathon circuits in the world, its relatively flat profile, efficient organisation and reputation for favourable racing conditions make it an attractive destination for athletes targeting exceptional times. Tesfay is also familiar with the Spanish city, having previously demonstrated her remarkable speed there with a 1:03:21 half-marathon performance.

Beyond the prestige of rewriting marathon history, the financial incentive is another major talking point. Valencia has placed a €1 million reward on offer for an athlete who breaks the marathon world record on its course. For the women's race, that means running faster than Chepngetich's existing 2:09:56.

Such an extraordinary reward adds another dimension to an already exciting contest. With the possibility of making history and securing a life-changing prize, the incentive could encourage an exceptionally ambitious approach from athletes, coaches and their respective teams.

Nevertheless, breaking the world record remains an enormous challenge. Marathon performances depend on numerous factors, including weather, pacing, competition and how athletes respond physically over the final kilometres. While Tesfay has already demonstrated her ability to run exceptionally close to the record, Ngetich faces the additional challenge of discovering how her remarkable talent translates to the marathon distance.

With an established champion returning, an Ethiopian record challenger in outstanding form and a Kenyan distance-running sensation preparing for her first marathon, Valencia is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated women's marathon contests of 2026.

Chepngetich's 2:09:56 has stood since October 2024, but the question now is whether Valencia will witness another historic breakthrough.

Will Fotyen Tesfay finally bring down the world record? Can Agnes Ngetich announce herself with a spectacular marathon debut? Or will Joyciline Jepkosgei successfully defend her crown?

December 6 promises to deliver a fascinating battle on the streets of Valencia.

Australian middle-distance sensation Cam Myers is already looking beyond his impressive achievements in 2026, with the ambitious goal of reaching the very top of the sport at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games before pursuing an even bigger dream on home soil at Brisbane 2032.

The 2026 season has been a remarkable breakthrough for the talented Australian, who has established himself among the leading names in international middle-distance running. Myers enjoyed a campaign filled with major victories, record-breaking performances and significant championship success, demonstrating that his potential extends far beyond being one of Australia's most exciting young athletes.

Among his outstanding achievements this year was winning the Diamond League 1500m title, confirming his ability to deliver against the world's best when the pressure is at its highest. He also claimed silver in the Commonwealth Games mile, finishing behind Britain's Josh Kerr, while securing national titles in both the 1500m and 5000m at the Australian Athletics Championships.

His success extended to two major international performances that further underlined his growing reputation. Myers captured victory in the prestigious Bowerman Mile at the Prefontaine Classic in a remarkable Oceanian record of 3:46.06 before producing another outstanding performance in Paris, where he won the 1500m in 3:28.00, setting another Oceanian record.

However, despite the impressive collection of achievements, Myers is not allowing his recent success to distract him from the bigger picture. Speaking in the November issue of Athletics Weekly, the Australian outlined his long-term ambitions, revealing that while Los Angeles 2028 remains a major target, the opportunity to compete at a home Olympic Games in Brisbane four years later carries even greater significance.

For the Los Angeles Olympics, Myers is targeting a place on the podium, with an Olympic gold medal representing the ultimate prize. But his ambitions stretch much further than simply winning a medal.

With six years separating the present moment from Brisbane 2032, the Australian believes he has sufficient time to develop into an even stronger and more complete athlete, eventually reaching a level where he can dominate the 1500m and become virtually unbeatable.

"My goal in LA is to win a medal, and preferably a gold medal, but I've got six years between now and Brisbane. Hopefully by then I can be unbeatable," Myers explained.

Interestingly, Myers is also choosing a different approach to the growing competitiveness and rivalry within elite middle-distance running. Rather than engaging in verbal exchanges or attempting to attract attention through trash talk, he prefers to let his performances speak for themselves.

His philosophy is centred on consistent improvement, delivering results on the track and allowing his achievements to define his standing among the world's best.

With a Diamond League crown, Commonwealth silver, two Australian national titles and two Oceanian records already secured in 2026, Myers has laid down a significant marker for what could become an extraordinary career.

The immediate challenge will be maintaining that momentum and translating his current form into Olympic success in Los Angeles. Beyond that lies an opportunity to achieve something truly special: standing on the Olympic podium in front of his home crowd in Brisbane in 2032.

For now, the Australian is building towards that future, but his ultimate ambition is unmistakable. He does not simply want to compete with the world's best; he wants to reach a point where nobody can beat him.

British marathoner Josh Griffiths has served a three-month suspension imposed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) after both his A and B samples tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, following his participation in the 2026 Belfast City Marathon.

The 33-year-old, who has represented Great Britain at two World Athletics Championships, came under investigation after finishing fourth in Belfast on May 3, clocking 2:18:01. The positive finding was subsequently confirmed in both samples collected following the race.

The AIU announced the disciplinary decision on Wednesday, November 11, confirming that Griffiths had received a three-month ban for the anti-doping rule violation. His suspension ran from June 19 to September 18, 2026, meaning he had already completed the sanction before the case became public.

Griffiths, whose marathon personal best stands at an impressive 2:11:28, strongly denied knowingly taking cocaine and maintained that he had no explanation for how the substance entered his system.

In his response to the anti-doping authorities, the Welsh athlete stated that he had "never knowingly ingested Cocaine and was not aware of Cocaine having been used by anyone close to him."

During the proceedings, scientific evidence was presented to support the argument that the concentration detected was inconsistent with cocaine consumption during the competition period. Coca tea and other possible sources of low-level exposure were also raised, although the precise source of the substance could not be established.

Importantly, the AIU accepted Griffiths' explanation that any ingestion must have occurred outside competition and been unrelated to sporting performance.

This distinction was central to the final decision. Under anti-doping regulations, cocaine is classified as a substance of abuse and is prohibited in competition. Where an athlete establishes that its use occurred outside competition and was unrelated to sporting performance, the applicable sanction can be reduced to three months.

Griffiths admitted the anti-doping rule violation and accepted the three-month suspension.

The consequences extended beyond the period of ineligibility. All his competitive results from May 3, 2026, onwards during the applicable disqualification period were annulled, including his fourth-place finish at the Belfast City Marathon. Any associated prize money was also forfeited.

Griffiths first attracted widespread attention at the 2017 London Marathon, where he produced an outstanding performance as a club athlete, finishing in 2:14:49 to become the fastest British man in the race.

His breakthrough performance earned him selection for Great Britain at the 2017 World Athletics Championships in London. He subsequently represented his country again at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon.

He also represented Wales at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and recorded an eighth-place finish at the 2021 London Marathon, further establishing his reputation as one of Britain's notable marathon runners.

The latest ruling represents a difficult chapter in the career of an athlete who rose from club-level competition to represent his country on the biggest international athletics stages.

British middle-distance star Georgia Hunter Bell is already looking towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where she hopes to take on one of the most demanding challenges in athletics: competing in both the women's 800m and 1500m.

Hunter Bell has openly expressed her ambition to attempt the prestigious double, believing that the revised Olympic athletics schedule could make the combination more achievable. However, with the newly released LA28 qualification standards setting an exceptionally high benchmark, the road to achieving that dream will require careful planning and outstanding performances.

The 32-year-old has already established herself as one of Britain's leading middle-distance athletes, demonstrating remarkable versatility across both distances. Her personal bests of 1:54.90 in the 800m and 3:52.61 in the 1500m underline her ability to compete at the highest level in either event.

And with the new Olympic standards now officially published by World Athletics, the challenge is becoming clearer.

THE LA28 WOMEN'S QUALIFICATION STANDARDS:

800m: 1:57.00

1500m: 3:57.50

On paper, Hunter Bell has already run comfortably inside both qualifying marks. Her 800m personal best is 2.10 seconds faster than the required standard, while her 1500m best is 4.89 seconds quicker.

Nevertheless, having the required times on her record is not the same as securing an Olympic place. She will need to produce qualifying performances within the official window, remain competitive against Britain's outstanding middle-distance field and successfully navigate the selection process.

According to World Athletics, approximately 40 per cent of the available places in each event are expected to be allocated through entry standards, with the remaining 60 per cent determined through world rankings. Importantly, achieving the standard does not automatically guarantee qualification if more athletes meet the mark than the available quota allows.

For both the 800m and 1500m, the qualification and ranking period will run from 19 June 2027 to 18 June 2028.

Hunter Bell's ambition comes at an exciting time for British athletics. Having already shown that she possesses the speed and endurance required to excel at both distances, she could become one of the fascinating athletes to watch as preparations for LA28 gather momentum.

Her challenge, however, will be about more than simply running two fast times. Successfully contesting both events at an Olympic Games requires exceptional preparation, tactical intelligence, recovery and the ability to deliver under immense pressure.

If she manages to secure places in both disciplines, the British star could have an opportunity to challenge for two Olympic finals and potentially two medals.

THE BIG QUESTION IS NOW: CAN GEORGIA HUNTER BELL TURN HER AMBITIOUS 800M/1500M DOUBLE DREAM INTO REALITY AT LOS ANGELES 2028?

The clock is ticking, the standards are set, and the road to LA28 is officially taking shape. 

South African athletics legend Caster Semenya has firmly ruled out any possibility of taking up a leadership position within Athletics South Africa (ASA), delivering a powerful message about betrayal, broken trust and her disappointment with the people entrusted with governing the sport.

The two-time Olympic 800m champion has made it clear that she has no intention of contesting for a position on the federation's board or accepting an ambassadorial role, insisting that she no longer wants to associate herself with organisations where she believes trust and accountability are lacking.

Speaking to SABC Sport, the 35-year-old did not hide her frustration, using particularly strong language to explain why she has no interest in returning to sports administration.

"I have been betrayed so many times by the very same people. I don't see myself sitting at a table with an enemy. I am going to be honest; I am speaking just for myself. I have no interest in any position or any organization at this moment," Semenya said.

She further explained that she would rather concentrate on developing her own projects and supporting the next generation of athletes than become involved in national or international sports leadership.

"I want to fix my own ship, which is Masai Athletics Club, the Caster Semenya Foundation, which is my priority, and my athletes," she added.

Her comments come at a particularly difficult moment for Athletics South Africa, which is facing serious governance challenges following a disciplinary investigation involving its suspended president, James Moloi.

An independent disciplinary panel chaired by retired Judge President Basheer Waglay found Moloi guilty of two charges relating to the misuse of the federation's financial resources, including unauthorised use of its corporate credit card. The panel recommended his removal from both the presidency and the federation's board. Moloi denied the charges.

World Athletics subsequently instructed Athletics South Africa to implement the panel's decision without delay, while giving the federation six months to adopt a revised constitution and undertake governance reforms. Failure to comply could result in the matter being referred to the World Athletics Council for possible sanctions, including provisional suspension.

The federation has since appointed Jean Verster as acting president as it works towards meeting the international governing body's requirements.

For Semenya, however, the crisis appears to reinforce her decision to stay away from the administration of a sport in which she has experienced some of her most difficult professional battles.

A three-time world 800m champion, Semenya has been one of South Africa's most celebrated athletes, winning Olympic gold at London 2012 and Rio 2016. Despite her extraordinary achievements on the track, her career has also been marked by a prolonged legal battle with World Athletics over regulations governing female athletes with differences of sex development.

Her latest remarks offer another indication of how deeply her experiences have influenced her relationship with sports institutions.

Rather than pursuing a position in the federation, she is choosing to invest her energy in coaching, developing athletes through Masai Athletics Club and expanding the work of her foundation.

Her decision also raises broader questions about athlete representation, accountability and the responsibility of sports administrators to protect the interests of those who dedicate their lives to representing their countries.

South African athletics has produced remarkable international champions, but rebuilding confidence in its leadership will require more than constitutional amendments and changes in office. Transparency, accountability and genuine respect for athletes will be equally important.

For now, Semenya has made her position unmistakably clear: she has no interest in returning to the boardroom, preferring to build her own legacy away from the politics of athletics.