Nairobi
A thrilling weekend of road, track, and cross-country racing saw historic milestones fall across Europe and North America. Driven by dominant performances from East African athletes and ground-breaking master achievements, course and world records were re-written across multiple World Athletics Label events.
Mark Kiptoo headlined a historic weekend of road racing by shattering the M50 half marathon world record at the San Sebastián Half Marathon in Spain. (Photo / Courtesy)
Men Over 50s 21km World Record
Turning back the clock in Spain, Kenya’s ageless Mark Kosgei Kiptoo smashed the World Masters 50 years and over record at the Donostia San Sebastián Half Marathon, winning the race overall in an astonishing 63:57.
Kiptoo’s legendary status in distance running stems from a late start in the sport and a training philosophy centered on absolute consistency.
Entering competitive racing in his late twenties and debuting in the marathon at age 37, Kiptoo avoided the cumulative physical toll that sidelines many elite runners early in life.
His training approach for masters athletes rejects extreme breaks, relying instead on a continuous cycle of running to preserve muscle memory and fitness. Furthermore, his regime balances physical conditioning with deep mental and spiritual preparation.
This disciplined longevity has resulted in a historic masters career.
Kiptoo won the 2014 Frankfurt Marathon at age 38, went on to set the M40 world record of 2:07:50 at the same event in 2018, and won the Zurich Marathon at age 46.
Supported by a lifetime marathon personal best of 2:06:00 and elite track speed, his sustainable training methods directly paved the way for his latest milestone — obliterating the M50 half marathon world record in San Sebastián at the age of 50.
Jepkosgei Smashes Cardiff Record, Kiprotich Dominates
At the World Athletics Elite Label Cardiff Half Marathon in Wales, Kenya’s former New York and London Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei delivered a masterclass. Jepkosgei crossed the line in a blazing, course-record time of 65:40. She comfortably held off an Ethiopian onslaught from runner-up Wede Kefale (65:54) and debutant Tigist Tesema (67:23).
In the men's division, Kenya's Gideon Kiprotich established an early, commanding lead to win cleanly in 59:34. Ethiopia’s Yismaw Dillu took second place in 60:18, followed by Bahrain’s Jonah Rutio in 61:13. Further down the field, Latvia’s Artūrs Niklāvs Medveds finished seventh, setting a new Latvian national record of 62:21 in his half-marathon debut.
Joyciline Jepkosgei delivered a masterclass, crossing the line in a blazing, course-record time of 65:40 at the World Athletics Elite Label Cardiff Half Marathon in Wales. (Photo / Courtesy)
Cologne Celebrates Double Course Records
The Generali Köln Marathon in Germany witnessed an unprecedented rewriting of its history books, with both the men’s and women’s course records falling to Kenyan athletes. Bernard Kiprop Koech clinched the men’s title in a blistering 2:06:10, fending off Ethiopia’s Habtamu Birlew, who ran a personal best of 2:06:30.
In the women's field, Kenya’s Jackline Chepngeno put on a spectacular performance to lower the women's course record to 2:21:34, leaving Ethiopia’s Fantu Shugi a distant second in 2:24:26.
Historic South African First in Košice
History was made at the 103rd Košice International Peace Marathon in Slovakia— Europe’s oldest marathon.
South Africa’s Adam Lipschitz, who had previously visited Košice twice strictly as a pacemaker, surprised the field to become the first South African champion in the event's history.
Lipschitz chopped down his personal best to win in 2:07:22. Kenyans Abednego Cheruiyot (2:07:53) and defending champion Moses Kemei (2:08:04) rounded out the men's podium.
The women's race in Košice was entirely controlled by Ethiopia, with Aberash Fayesa securing the crown in a personal best of 2:21:55 ahead of debutant Nurit Ahmed (2:25:04).
History was made at the 103rd Košice International Peace Marathon in Slovakia (Europe’s oldest marathon) when South Africa’s Adam Lipschitz surprised the field to become the first South African champion in the event's history. (Photo / Courtesy)
Ethiopian Clean Sweep in Brașov
In Romania, the tRUNsylvania International 10K podiums were completely locked out by Ethiopian athletes. 20-year-old African 10,000m bronze medalist Asefu Abreha unleashed a devastating kick 200 metres from the finish line to take the women's race in a personal best of 30:16. On the men's side, Valencia 10K runner-up Khairi Bejiga successfully defended his title in an incredible 27:01, narrowly out-sprinting Nibret Kinde (27:02).
Olympic hero Jakob Ingebrigtsen delighted local fans at the Sandnes Runfest in Norway, winning a tight 5K road race in 13:26 over teammate Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen (13:28).
Summary of the top results:
Cardiff Half Marathon:
Men's Top 3:
1. Gideon Kiprotich (KEN) – 59:34,
2. Yismaw Dillu (ETH) – 60:18,
3. Jonah Rutio (BRN) – 61:13
Women's Top 3:
1. Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) – 65:40 (Course Record),
2. Wede Kefale (ETH) – 65:54,
3. Tigist Tesema (ETH) – 67:23
tRUNsylvania International 10K Brasov:
Men's Top 3:
1. Khairi Bejiga (ETH) – 27:01,
2. Nibret Kinde (ETH) – 27:02,
3. Ayele Tadesse (ETH) – 27:10
Women's Top 3:
1. Asefu Abreha (ETH) – 30:16,
2. Aynadis Mebratu (ETH) – 30:19,
3. Yenenesh Shimket (ETH) – 30:21
Generali Köln Marathon (Cologne):
Men's Top 4:
1. Bernard Kiprop Koech (KEN) – 2:06:10 (Course Record),
2. Habtamu Birlew (ETH) – 2:06:30,
3. Raymond Kipchumba Choge (KEN) – 2:07:20,
4. Victor Kiplangat (UGA) – 2:07:57
Women's Top 2:
1. Jackline Chepngeno (KEN) – 2:21:34 (Course Record),
2. Fantu Shugi (ETH) – 2:24:26
Košice International Peace Marathon:
Men's Top 4:
1. Adam Lipschitz (RSA) – 2:07:22,
2. Abednego Cheruiyot (KEN) – 2:07:53,
3. Moses Kemei (KEN) – 2:08:04,
4. Kaan Kigen Özbilen (TUR) – 2:08:23
Women's Top 3:
1. Aberash Fayesa (ETH) – 2:21:55,
2. Nurit Ahmed (ETH) – 2:25:04,
3. Tecla Jelimo (KEN) – 2:29:57
Twin Cities Marathon (Minneapolis):
Men's Winner: Victor Shitsama (KEN) – 2:12:20
Women's Winner: Lilian Jepkorir Chebii (KEN) – 2:25:26
Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon:
Men's Winner: Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) – 2:21:19
Women's Winner: Alemitu Lema (ETH) – 2:39:29
Generali Köln Half Marathon (Cologne):
Men's Top 2:
1. Richard Ringer (GER) – 61:50,
2. Jona Bodirsky (GER) – 62:52
Women's Top 2:
1. Esther Pfeiffer (GER) – 67:24,
2. Fabienne Koenigstein (GER) – 70:55
TC 10K (Minneapolis):
Men's Top 3:
1. Aidan Troutner (USA) – 27:40,
2. Dillon Maggard (USA) – 27:41,
3. Ryan Ford (USA) – 27:42
Women's Top 3:
1. Emily Venters (USA) – 31:09,
2. Kasandra Parker (USA) – 31:57,
3. Allie Ostrander (USA) – 32:02
Poznan Marathon:
Men's Winner: Barecha Tolosa (ETH) – 2:11:35
Women's Winner: Betty Chepkwony (KEN) – 2:29:33
Skopje Marathon:
Men's Winner: Derrick Chege (KEN) – 2:12:56
Women's Winner: Dolphine Kemunto (KEN) – 2:32:06
Marathon P'tit Train du Nord (Canada):
Men's Winner: Amos Kiprotich Kiplagat (KEN) – 2:11:51
Albacete City International Half Marathon:
Men's Winner: Keyiru Kedir (ETH) – 61:10
Women's Winner: Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) – 69:47
Donostia San Sebastian Half Marathon:
Men's Winner: Mark Kosgei Kiptoo (KEN) – 63:57 (M50 World Record)
Telesia Half Marathon:
Men's Winner: Kelvin Kariuki Gachaga (KEN) – 62:46
Run in Lyon Half Marathon:
Men's Winner: Bastien Augusto (FRA) – 63:16
Košice Peace Half Marathon:
Men's Top 2 (Overall / National Title):
1. Bence Vitárius (HUN) – 68:28,
2. Jakub Jenčuš (SVK) – 68:51 (Slovak Champion)
Women's National Winner: Veronika Páleníková (SVK) – 76:53 (Slovak Champion)
Tartu Half Marathon:
Men's National Winner: Deniss Šalkauskas (EST) – 66:16 (Estonian Champion)
Women's National Winner: Liis-Grete Hussar (EST) – 76:47 (Estonian Champion)
Italian 10km Road Running Championships (Grado):
Men's Winner: Konjoneh Maggi (ITA) – 28:36
Women's Winner: Elvanie Nimbona (ITA) – 32:45
SPAR Women's Grand Prix Series 10K (Johannesburg):
Women's Winner: Glenrose Xaba (RSA) – 32:25
Sandnes RunfestL:
Men's 5K Top 3:
1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) – 13:26,
2. Andreas Fjeld Halvorsen (NOR) – 13:28,
3. Abdrselam Worku (ETH) – 13:29
Women's 5K Winner: Wilma Bekkemoen Torbiornsson (NOR) – 16:26
Men's 10K Winner: Biniyam Melak (ETH) – 27:29
Women's 10K Winner: Meraf Bahta (SWE) – 32:57
City 10K Run Appingedam:
Men's Winner: Yobiel Welderufael (ERI) – 27:55
Women's Winner: Clare Ndiwa (KEN) – 30:44
Austrian 10km Road Running Championships (Kobersdorf):
Men's Winner: Andreas Vojta (AUT) – 30:22 (53rd national title)
Women's Winner: Lemuela Wutz (AUT) – 35:36
Poznań Five:
Men's Winner: Aleksii Pysarev (UKR) – 14:05
Women's Winner: Jecinta Mwende (KEN) – 15:59
International Berango Mile:
Men's Top 3:
1. Isaac Nader (POR) – 4:23,
2. Mariano García (ESP) – 4:24,
3. Ignacio Fontes (ESP) – 4:25
Women's Top 3:
1. Miriam Cherop (KEN) – 4:51,
2. Salome Afonso (POR) – 4:51,
3. Marta Mitjans (ESP) – 4:53
Chile Pepper XC Festival (Fayetteville):
Men's 8km Winner: Pau Valderrama (ESP) – 24:02.8
Women's 5km Winner: Braelyn Combe (USA) – 15:59
Nike XC Town Twilight College (Terre Haute):
Men's 8km Winner: Titus Kimaru (KEN) – 23:53.5
Women's 6km Winner: Lily Mather (AUS) – 20:29.3
Mattoni Liberec Trail Run (23km / 13km):
Men's 23km Winner: Vít Pavlišta (CZE) – 1:24:01
Women's 23km Winner: Tereza Hrochová (CZE) – 1:32:12
Men's 13km Winner: Damián Vích (CZE) – 48:31
Japanese U20 Championships (Track):
Men's 200m Top 3: 1. Taiju Goto (JPN) – 20.40, 2. Yamato Iida (JPN) – 20.61, 3. Yuto Yamada (JPN) – 20.74
Women's 200m Winner: Risa Akizawa (JPN) – 22.96w
Men's 100m Winner: Sekito Matsushita (JPN) – 10.11 (Meet Record)
Women's 100m Hurdles Winner: Mirei Eguchi (JPN) – 13.27
Memorial "Atanas Neykov" (Track):
Men's Javelin U18 Winner: Mihail Rusinov (BUL) – 72.20m (National U18 Record)
Zagreb Race Walk:
Men's Winner: Bruno Erent (CRO) – (Time truncated in text)
Women's Winner: Lana Švarbić (CRO) – 1:38:24
Bernard Kiprop Koech clinched the men’s Kolm Marathon title in a blistering course record 2:06:10. (Photo / Courtesy)
(Story compiled courtesy of resources by EME News)
