Running News Daily

The timeless streets of Rome came alive in spectacular fashion on Sunday, March 22, as the Acea Run Rome The Marathon 2026 delivered a day of elite competition defined by razor-thin margins and record-breaking brilliance. From a dramatic men’s duel to a commanding women’s performance, the Italian capital witnessed a marathon showcase of the highest order.

In the men’s race, Kenya’s Asbel Rutto emerged victorious after an electrifying battle, clocking 2:06:32 in one of the closest finishes of the season. Pushed all the way to the line by compatriot Henry Tukor Kichana, who followed just four seconds behind in 2:06:36, the race was a masterclass in endurance and tactical execution. Ethiopia’s Lencho Tesfaye Anbesa secured third in 2:07:44, completing a fiercely contested podium.

Defending champion Robert Ngeno fought valiantly to finish fourth in 2:09:01, while the lead pack steadily thinned over the closing kilometers, leaving Rutto to deliver the decisive finishing surge that sealed his triumph.

Top 10 Finishers – Men’s Elite Race

1. Asbel Rutto — 2:06:32

2. Henry Tukor Kichana — 2:06:36

3. Lencho Tesfaye Anbesa — 2:07:44

4. Robert Ngeno — 2:09:01

5. Abebaw Desalew Zewda — 2:09:32

6. Elkana Langat — 2:10:23

7. Solomon Weldeslassie Berihu — 2:11:15

8. Demisu Anegagreng Gemeda — 2:13:14

9 Fredrick Kibii — 2:13:57

10. Abraham Kapsis Kipyatich — 2:14:33

If the men’s race was defined by tension, the women’s contest belonged to one woman alone. Kenya’s Pascaline Kibiwot delivered a performance of rare authority, surging to victory in a stunning 2:22:44—shattering the event record and etching her name into the history of the race.

Composed in the early stages and devastatingly strong in the closing miles, Kibiwot broke away with precision and never looked back, her stride carrying both power and poise as she conquered the historic course. Behind her, Ethiopia’s Genet Tadesse Robi secured second place in 2:24:55 after a determined run, while Aberash Fayesa Robi completed the podium in 2:25:43, underlining Ethiopia’s depth in the women’s field.

As the race unfolded, the leading pack gradually fractured under the pressure of an unforgiving pace. By the final kilometers, Kibiwot had shifted into another gear entirely—one no rival could match—turning a competitive race into a statement victory.

Top 10 Finishers – Women’s Marathon

1. Pascaline Kibiwot — 2:22:44

2. Genet Tadesse Robi — 2:24:55

3. Aberash Fayesa Robi — 2:25:43

4. Addisalem Belay Tegegn — 2:28:16

5. Netsanet Gudeta Kebede — 2:28:50

6. Betelhem Nega Ferede — 2:29:30

7. Roselidah Jepketer — 2:30:07

8. Azalech Masresha Woldeselasse — 2:30:19

9. Addisew Mislenew — 2:30:29

10. Tsega Desta Mehari — 2:31:15

Beyond the podiums, the 2026 Rome Marathon stood as a powerful celebration of global distance running, where athletes from multiple continents pushed their limits on one of the sport’s most iconic stages. Yet at its heart, this edition will be remembered for two defining images: Rutto straining to the line in a breathtaking sprint for victory, and Kibiwot gliding to a record-breaking triumph that crowned her the undisputed queen of Rome.

Fresh from winning the 2024 Stockholm Marathon triumph, Fredrick Kibii will spearhead a formidable Kenyan lineup at the Hengshui Lake Marathon in China on Sunday.

The 28-year-old triumphed at the Stockholm Marathon in June, crossing the line in 2:14:17, leading a Kenyan top-five finish.

Robert Ng'eno (2:14:30) and Benard Kipkorir (2:15:41) completed the podium with Kennedy Kipyeko (2:15:53) and Abednego Cheruiyot (2:16:46) in tow.

In April, Kibii clocked 2:08:56 to finish fourth at the Linz Marathon, trailing Eritrea’s Goitom Kifle (2:08:15), Denis Chirchir (2:08:28) and Ethiopia’s Dejene Debela (2:08:38).

Kibii's impressive resume boasts a third-place finish at the 2023 Hannover Marathon, clocking 2:08:09 behind Germany’s Amanal Petros (2:07:02) and Chirchir (2:07:17).

He finished a solid seventh-place finish at the Frankfurt Marathon later that year (2:09:33).

Joining Kibii in China is Boaz Kipkemei, who finished second at this year’s Hannover Marathon in April in a time of 2:07:06.

Gevin Kerich, who was three seconds (2:06:52) behind last year’s Doha Marathon winner, Morocco's Mohcin Outalha, is also in contention.

Kerich grabbed second place at the 2022 Eindhoven Marathon (2:07:07).

Boniface Kimutai rounds off a strong Kenyan contingent, who face stiff competition from Ethiopian runners, led by 2020 Seville Marathon champion Mekuant Ayenew, Copenhagen Marathon runner-up Gadisa Birhanu and Daegu Marathon third-place finisher Berhane Tsegay.

Hannover Marathon third-place finisher Lilian Jebitok will headline the women’s elite field.

Her resume includes a victory at the 2019 Casablanca Marathon (2:31:31) and a third-place finish at the 2018 Nairobi Standard Chartered Marathon (2:42:23).

She is joined by Tallinn Marathon champion Mercy Kwambai, second at the Copenhagen Marathon in May (2:28:12) and runner-up at the 2022 Bregenz Marathon (2:30:15).

Ethiopia will once again provide the competition with 2021 Stockholm Marathon champion Atalel Anmut leading the charge.

She has Seville Marathon third-place finisher Urge Diro and Xuzhou Marathon champion Derartu Hailu for company.

On Saturday, the classic Stockholm marathon ran for the 45th time - and then it was a double Kenyan victory.

Fredrick Kibii was first to finish on the men's side in 02.14.17 and on the women's side Marion Kibor finished in 02.31.46 to complete the double.

First Swede in the finish line and SM winner on the men's side was Ebba Tulu Chala, and SM gold on the women's side went to Carolina Wikström.

Two-time La Rochelle Marathon champion Marion Kibor will go head-to-head with Stockholm Marathon defending champion Sifan Melaku this Saturday (June 1) in a thrilling showdown in Sweden's capital.

Melaku claimed the title last year after clocking 2:30:44 in a race where she led an Ethiopian podium sweep. Compatriots Amente Sorome (2:33:31) and Yenenesh Dinkesa (2:35:44) placed second and third 

Kibor boasts a personal best (PB) of 2:22:35 set during last year’s Haspa Marathon, where she placed fifth.

The 30-year-old first seized the La Rochelle title in 2019 with a time of 2:29:51 and reclaimed it in 2022 with an impressive 2:25:15.

Her accolades also include a bronze in the Paris Half Marathon (1:06:46) and a silver at the 2022 Geneva Marathon (2:28:30).

Joining Kibor is Flomena Chepkiach, the Tunis Marathon champion, Lina Jepkemoi, the Linz Marathon silver medalist and Sarah Kiptoo, the 2014 Cleveland Marathon champion. 

Melaku will be flanked by her formidable Ethiopian teammates, last year’s runner-up Sorome and 2019 Leiden Marathon champion Zenebu Bihonegn.

In the men’s race, Fredrick Kibii, the 2023 Hannover Marathon bronze medalist, will lead the Kenyan charge. Kibii has a PB of 2:08:09 set in Hannover.

He will be supported by Robert Ngeno, Buenos Aires Marathon bronze medalist, who placed fourth at last year's Stockholm Marathon with a time of 2:13:52.

Also in the mix is Bernard Kipkorir, the 2020 Houston Half Marathon silver medalist. He has a PB of 2:07:18 from the 2021 Valencia Marathon where he finished in position 15.

Kipkorir has an impressive record in the half marathon including a title in the 2019 Istanbul Half Marathon (59:56) as well as silver medals during the 2019 Valencia (59:07) and Copenhagen (59:16) Half Marathons.

Rounding out the Kenyan squad are Kennedy Kipyeko, the La Rochelle Marathon champion with a PB of 2:10:49 and Abednego Cheruiyot, the 2022 Azpeitia Half Marathon bronze medalist.

Morocco’s Mohamed El Talhaoui will pose a significant challenge for the Kenyans. El Talhaoui, who has a PB of 2:08:03 from the Seville Marathon, is expected to be a strong contender.

Vienna Marathon champion Magdalene Masai will battle Azmera Gebru at the Sevilla Marathon on Sunday even as the organizers promise to honor Kelvin Kiptum.

The organizers will observe a 42-second silence in respect to Kiptum, the world marathon record holder who died on Sunday in a road accident alongside his coach, Rwandese Gervais Hakizimana.

“Before the start of the marathon on Sunday, we will pay tribute to Kelvin Kiptum, the world record holder, and his coach, who died in a traffic accident. We will observe 42 seconds of silence, as many as kilometers of the race, in his memory,” the organizers said in a statement.

Masai won the Vienna Marathon in April last year in 2:24:12.

She also won the 2019 Toronto Waterfront Marathon in Canada (2:22:16) and was second at the Hasper Marathon in Hamburg, Germany, in 2:26:02.

The 31-year-old is also a 2015 World Challenge gold medallist in 3,000m steeplechase from Dakar, Senegal, where she clocked 9:31.55.

Joining her will be 2018 Paris Half Marathon champion Antonina Kwambai. She clinched the Paris title in 1:08:07.

Gebru, from Ethiopia, won silver during the 2011 World U-20 Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain, clocking 18:54.

She is also an African U-20 champion in the 3,000m from the 2011 Africa Junior Championships in Gaborone, Botswana, clocking 9:11.84.

The duo will face stern competition from Spanish champion Meritxell Soler, the Cursa dels Nassos (Barcelona) 10km champion (32:37).

Leading the elite men’s race is defending champion Gadisa Shumie of Ethiopia who won last year’s edition in 2:04:59.

He will be up against 2019 Gran Canaria Marathon champion Julius Kiprono, 2023 Hannover Marathon bronze medallist Fredrick Kibii, Collins Kemboi and 2023 Zurich Marathon San Sebastian champion Benson Tunyo.