Running News Daily

The Warsaw Marathon is set to deliver an intriguing international contest on 27 September, with a competitive field featuring athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Chile and Hungary.

The men’s race brings together four runners with strong marathon credentials, led by Kenya’s Stephen Kibor, who owns a personal best of 2:09:33. He will face Ethiopia’s Daniel Tola, a 2:09:55 performer, while Uganda’s Victor Kwemboi enters with a 2:09:35 personal best.

Adding an international dimension to the field is Chilean marathon record-holder Hugo Catrileo, whose personal best of 2:08:44 makes him the fastest athlete on the listed start sheet. Catrileo will be looking to translate his proven ability over the marathon distance into a strong performance on Warsaw’s streets.

The women’s race is equally compelling, with Kenya represented by Sharon Jemutai Cherop and Vivian Jerotich. Cherop brings a personal best of 2:22:28, while Jerotich has a best of 2:26:41, giving the Kenyan pair considerable experience and speed over the classic 42.195-kilometre distance.

Ethiopia’s Gelane Senbete, with a personal best of 2:26:28, will add further depth to the women’s field, while Hungary’s Lili Vindics-Toth, who has run 2:27:21, completes the selected quartet.

With athletes from several strong distance-running nations converging on the Polish capital, the Warsaw Marathon promises a fascinating battle of experience, endurance and international ambition.

For the leading contenders, the race will provide another opportunity to test themselves against quality opposition, while the diverse field should make for an engaging contest from the opening kilometres through to the finish line.

The 43rd Vienna City Marathon will take place on April 19, and one runner arriving with unfinished business is Oqbe Kibrom of Eritrea. Kibrom will return to the Austrian capital hoping to become the first Eritrean athlete to win the men’s race at this prestigious event.

Kibrom finished third in Vienna in 2022, and he enters this year’s race as the fastest man on the current start list with a personal best of 2:05:37.

Organizers report strong participation for this year’s race. More than 13,000 runners are registered for the marathon distance alone, and when shorter races over the two-day weekend are included, the total number of participants climbs to over 46,000, a record for the event.

A Second Chance at Victory

When Kibrom raced in Vienna four years ago, it briefly appeared he might make history.

After the final pacemaker stepped aside just past 30 kilometers, Kibrom surged into the lead and looked poised to become the first Eritrean man to win the race. However, the effort proved costly.

Kenya’s Cosmas Muteti closed the gap late in the race and passed Kibrom with five kilometers remaining, eventually taking the win. Kibrom finished third in 2:07:25.

While Eritrea has celebrated a women’s champion in Vienna, the men’s race has yet to be won by an Eritrean athlete.

Kibrom, whose manager is Swiss marathon record holder Tadesse Abraham, has remained consistently competitive on the global marathon stage. The 28-year-old set his personal best of 2:05:37 when finishing eighth at the Berlin Marathon two years ago.

More recently, he finished fourth at the Daegu Marathon in South Korea in 2025, running 2:06:04. With three sub-2:06 performances to his name, Kibrom may now be poised for his first major marathon victory.

Strong African Contenders

Kibrom will face strong competition from fellow African runners.

Ethiopia’s Tafese Delegen owns a personal best of 2:06:11, set at the Seville Marathon two years ago.

Kenya’s Stanley Kurgat ran 2:07:05 at the Berlin Marathon, finishing seven places behind Kibrom in that race.

Another Kenyan to watch is Albert Kangogo, who ran 2:07:26 while finishing second at the Mersin Marathon in Turkey last December. Kangogo has already proven he can perform well in Vienna—he placed third in the 2023 race in 2:10:44.

Austrian Hope: Aaron Gruen

Local fans will also be watching Aaron Gruen, who made headlines last spring by becoming the first Austrian runner to break 2:10 in the marathon.

The 27-year-old ran 2:09:53 in Congers, New York, improving his personal best by nearly five minutes.

Gruen has continued his strong form in 2026, setting a half marathon personal best of 61:14 in Houston earlier this year. Balancing elite training with his studies, he is currently attending Harvard Medical School in Boston, making his preparation even more impressive.

European Marathon Classics Series Launched

The Vienna City Marathon is also playing a central role in a newly created marathon series called European Marathon Classics (EMC).

Alongside Vienna, the series includes major European marathons in:

• London Marathon

• Rome Marathon

• Madrid Marathon

• Lisbon Marathon

• Warsaw Marathon

• Copenhagen Marathon

• Frankfurt Marathon

Runners who complete at least five of these marathons in different cities will receive a specially designed medal recognizing the achievement.

“European Marathon Classics embodies our ambition to explore Europe together while pushing boundaries—both geographically and philosophically,” said Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the London Marathon. “I hope it will inspire runners from around the world to experience Europe’s great marathons, cities, and communities.”

Kathrin Widu, joint managing director of the Vienna City Marathon along with Dominik Konrad, added:

“The European Marathon Classics are an inspiring challenge. By bringing together leading European marathons, we aim to inspire even more people to embrace marathon running. We are united by shared values such as a passion for the sport, community, health, and sustainability.”

A new chapter in European marathon running was unveiled on February 25, 2026, when organizers introduced the European Marathon Classics, a series linking eight of the continent’s most established races into one long-term challenge for runners. 

The announcement was made in Vienna at the historic Schönbrunn Palace, bringing together race directors and organizers from across Europe. The concept is simple: one distance, eight cities, and a shared journey through some of Europe’s most celebrated marathon courses.

The new series connects races that already have strong identities of their own. By linking them together, organizers hope to inspire runners to explore different countries, cultures, and running traditions while pursuing a personal challenge. 

To earn the title European Marathon Classics Finisher, runners must complete five of the eight marathons, each in a different city. There is no time limit, allowing participants to build their journey over several seasons.

The eight races in the series form a calendar stretching from early spring to autumn:

2026 European Marathon Classics Schedule

March 22 – Rome Marathon (Italy)

April 19 – Vienna City Marathon (Austria)

April 26 – London Marathon (United Kingdom)

April 26 – Madrid Marathon (Spain)

May 10 – Copenhagen Marathon (Denmark)

September 27 – Warsaw Marathon (Poland)

October 10 – Lisbon Marathon (Portugal)

October 25 – Frankfurt Marathon (Germany)

Runners who complete five races will receive a commemorative medal designed to reflect the journey. The medal includes magnetic elements that allow athletes to add a marker for each marathon they finish.

One unusual feature of the project is that past results will count. Organizers say runners will be able to register historical performances from earlier editions of the races, recognizing the long traditions behind these events.

London Marathon Event Director Hugh Brasher said the idea is meant to highlight what connects runners across the continent.

Following a successful return of athletics at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday, Taipei Marathon champion Antonina Kwambai is hopeful her return will be as epic when the Valencia Marathon goes down in the Spanish city on December 8.

The 2019 Paris Half Marathon champion said she has undergoing rigorous training ahead of the race, hoping to lower her personal best time in what she calls a fast course.

Kwambai has a personal best time of 2:27.43 clocked while finishing second at the 2019 Warsaw Marathon and remains optimistic that the coronavirus pandemic health situation will have improved by the time she heads to Europe.

This will be her third marathon race after Warsaw and Taipei.

“I have fully resumed training in readiness for the Valencia Marathon, targeting a sub-2:23 time," said Kwambai.

When the first COVID-29 case in the country was announced in March, Kwambai was preparing for a trip to the United States of America to run at the Los Angeles Marathon but as fate would have it, the government introduced restrictions which meant she could not fly out.

“First, I was told there was a delay at the airport and later I was told that the race had been cancelled. I was disappointed because I had done all that was needed to travel to the USA but I had to accept the decisions made by the authorities since people's health,” added Kwambai, the 2018 Lille Half marathon.

“After missing out at the outing, I did not lose hope but maintained my training under manager Renato Canova with coach John Litein ensuring that I follow the program to the later,” said Kwambai, who had ran 21 half marathons across the world before taking onto the full marathon.

After signing with Renato, she says she expects to register good results. On Sunday, she was on the training track with an easy run and fitness routines.

“I have done well in half marathons with a personal best of 67:49 set at the Roma Austria half marathon and I have a 10,000m PB of 31:02 set at the Valencia Track and Field Championships,” she said.

Apart from the international races, she finished third at the 2018 Eldoret Family Bank Half Marathon, finished third at the Kabarnet 10km race and second at the inaugural Rimoi Half Marathon last year.

Masai has bettered the one-hour barrier three times in his career, with a best of 59:31 from Copenhagen in 2016. The following year he won in Berlin with 59:57, and he ended the 2018 season with a best of 1:00:16 from Venlo. Making his debut on Polish roads at the age of 37, the Kenyan is the prime candidate to challenge the course and Polish all-comers’ record of 1:00:48.

Kirui has an even more impressive career record, with five sub-one-hour clockings and a personal best of 59:22, set when winning in Prague in 2014. The most recent of these performances was a win in Krems in 2016 in 59:53.

Two other Kenyan runners with a history of good performances on the Polish road circuit will also be major contenders. Hillary Maiyo, with a career best of 1:01:05 from 2017, will be running in Warsaw for the fourth consecutive year and hoping to go even better after taking fifth, fourth and third in previous editions. David Metto, a 1:02:24 man, was the winner in last autumn's Warsaw Marathon and will attempt to keep his good streak in the city going.

Another one returning to the Polish capital is El Hassan Oubaddi, the Moroccan who finished fourth in the race last year with 1:02:52 and has since improved his PB to 1:02:40 last November. Also in the field is his compatriot Jaouad Chemlal, with a 1:02:31 from Marrakech last year.

Not to be discounted is Wycliffe Biwott, the winner from Tirana in 2017 with a 1:01:18. He will be hoping to make a return to form after missing the 2018 season.

Starting as the clear favorite in the women's race is Naomi Rotich. The Kenyan comes into it off the back of a personal best of 1:08:19 in Ras Al Khaimah last month. That was her fifth career sub-1:10, with earlier ones including victories in Breda and Dronten in 2017, as well as Madrid in 2018.

Conditions permitting, Rotich looks ready to challenge the course record of 1:09:06, which is also the fastest time ever achieved on Polish soil.

The main challenge to her dominance is expected to come from fellow Kenyans Gladys Kipkoech and Naomi Vaati. Kipkoech ran 1:10:13 to win in Hamburg last year, while Vaati set her best of 1:10:17 just over a month ago in Guadalajara.

Another woman in form is Abebech Gela Mulugeta, who set a PB of 1:11:07 this year to win in Santa Pola.

Wesley Korir won the 2012 Boston Marathon and has not raced since April 2017 but after taking time out from his political career, the 35-year-old is planning to get back to winning ways at next month’s race in the Lebanese capital. “Everything is going well, I’m trying to get in shape after politics and run full-time again,” said Korir. “Getting a win in Beirut will give me a boost for me as I get back to the top level.” To succeed he will have to be at his best, with Ethiopia’s Bazu Worku, who has a best of 2:05:25 and was a winner at the Houston Marathon this year, also in the field. Kenyans Ezekial Omullo and Andrew Ben Kimutai, who have both run below 2:09, are also sure to run well. Omullo is a three-time winner of the Warsaw Marathon, his most dominant win coming in 2016 when he set his current PB of 2:08:55, while in April this year he cruised to victory at the same race in 2:11:17. Kimutai is also a formidable performer, the 29-year-old finishing third at the Seville Marathon earlier this year where he set his current PB of 2:08:32. There will also be a duo of exciting prospects in Uganda’s Felix Chemonges and Morocco’s Mohamed Ahmami, who bring impressive pedigree at the shorter distances. An interesting debutant at the distance is Kenya’s Kalipus Lomwai, who was a pacemaker at the race last year but carries a classy half marathon best of 1:01:22, which he ran to win in Hamburg in July. Others of note include Bahrain’s Benson Seurei, who brings the best track pedigree to this test of endurance, the 34-year-old boasting an 800m personal best of 1:45.67. Since moving to the marathon he has proved himself a capable performer, finishing seventh in Barcelona earlier this year in 2:11:27.  Wesley will have to be really on November 11 to pull off the win against this elite group of runners. 

David Metto and Beatrice Cherop were the victors at the PZU Warsaw Marathon on Sunday, winning the IAAF Bronze Label road race in 2:12:44 and 2:35:22 respectively to achieve just the second Kenyan double in the 39-year history of the race. Metto formed part of the lead pack through five kilometers, reached in 15:49, before opening up a gap on his opponents to lead by 13 seconds at 10 kilometers. Ethiopia’s Ayele Woldesemayat soon re-joined him, though, and they passed through the half-way mark together in 1:06:48. France’s 2012 European 1500m silver medallist Florian Carvalho, making his marathon debut, was 20 seconds adrift at this point, forming part of a three-man chase pack. Tsige started to struggle over the course of the next 10 kilometers and was eventually caught by Carvalho before 30 kilometers. Metto had a 35-second lead over Carvalho at this point and it grew to exactly one minute at 35 kilometers, reached in 1:50:03. Having covered the second half quicker than the first, Metto won in 2:12:44 to secure his second marathon victory on Polish soil this year, following his triumph in Debno back in April.

Lusapho April, who has a 2:08:32 lifetime marathon best, is one of the most-titled runners in the field, having climbed the podium at races throughout the world during his career. A three-time Hannover Marathon winner, April’s greatest achievement was a third place finish at the New York City Marathon in 2013 clocking 2:09:45. Several runners are prepared to pull off surprises, including Kenyan Joseph Kyengo Munywoki, the 2017 winner in Riga in 2:12:14. His compatriot Silas Too has also illustrated fine form, clocking a 2:08:26 personal best for second in Barcelona in March. Duncan Cheruiyot Koech has the credential to make an impact, bringing a 2:07:53 lifetime best to the start line. The 36-year-old ran that six years ago but has recently threatened the 2:10 barrier with a third place finish at last month's Hannover Marathon where he clocked 2:10:19. Meanwhile, Jepkirui Rono, the favorite in the women's race, has a pair of high profile podium finishes to her name, second place in Frankfurt in 2012 where she clocked her 2:21:39 career best, and a third place finish in Boston earlier that year. She can also boast of victories in Eindhoven and Hannover. More recently, she was third at the Dongying Marathon in 2017 clocking 2:28:52. Among the opposition in Riga is last year's runner-up Kikuyo Tsuzaki of Japan, whose 2:31:32 career best came on this course in 2017. Two-time Warsaw Marathon winner Nastassia Ivanova from Belarus should also be a factor.