Ethiopian athletes set new records at 2026 Athens Marathon

The 2026 Athens Marathon, also known as the Authentic, showcased outstanding performances from Ethiopian runners on Sunday, November 8. At the historic Panathenaic Stadium, Manazot Siyoum Taferi and Yatane Kormoshe Dusha achieved remarkable course records.

Taferi emerged victorious in the men’s race with an impressive time of 2:10:03, while Dusha claimed the women’s title, finishing in 2:30:04.

Asefa Tefera Mengisha secured second place for the men, completing the race in 2:10:18. Kenya’s Patrick Keter Kiplagat followed closely in third with a time of 2:11:22. For the women, Tsiyon Abebe Temesgen finished as the runner-up in 2:30:29, ahead of American Jane Jepkemboi Bareikis, who placed third with a time of 2:32:59.

Reaching the halfway point in 1:06:50, Taferi maintained a strong pace, hitting 30 kilometers at 1:35:02. His final time improved the established course record of 2:10:34, held by Edwin Kiptoo from Kenya since 2023, by 31 seconds. Mengisha also finished under the previous record, just 15 seconds behind Taferi.

As the race progressed, the lead Ethiopian runners began to pull away from the competition after 35 kilometers, although the outcome remained uncertain until the final kilometer.

In the women’s competition, Dusha and Temesgen broke away after the halfway mark. Ultimately, Dusha extended her lead, securing victory with her time of 2:30:04, which surpassed the previous event record of 2:31:06 established by Lithuania’s Rasa Drazdauskaitė in 2010.

Kenya’s Vincent Kipsang Rono finished fourth overall with a time of 2:12:06. He was closely followed by Eritrea’s Nguse Amlosom Tesfaldet, who clocked in at 2:12:20, and Kenya’s Victor Biwott, finishing in 2:14:10.

Konstantinos Stamoulis was the top Greek male finisher, completing the race in eighth place with a time of 2:17:37.

In the women’s race, Greek runner Stamatia Noula achieved sixth place, finishing in 2:35:13, marking the fastest time recorded by a Greek woman on this historic course.

Men’s Results

The men’s race featured impressive performances, with Taferi and Mengisha leading the pack. Their times not only secured them podium finishes but also set new benchmarks for future competitors.

Women’s Results

The women’s race was equally competitive, with Dusha and Temesgen showcasing their strength. Their performances not only earned them top spots but also highlighted the growing talent in women’s marathon running.