Millions for Kasait after Daegu Marathon Course Record on debut
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 24.02.26. | 13:33
Tanzania's Gabriel Geay clinched the men's title
Former World Cross Country bronze medalist (2017) and Africa Games 5000m (2019) champion Lilian Kasait announced herself in the marathon world with a course record at Sunday's Daegu Marathon, clocking a sub 2:20 on her debut in the classic distance.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
Kasait clocked 2:19:35 to cross the finish line 19 seconds ahead of Ethiopia's Buze Diriba (2:19:54), despite taking a nasty fall just 400m from the finish line. Another Kenyan, Evaline Chirchir, closed the podium places in 2:20:51, as all three women went under the previous course mark of 2:21:08 set by Ruti Aga in 2024.
For her exploits, Kasait bagged Ksh28.8 million ($200,000), the winning prize for this year’s event, which makes it the largest in Daegu Marathon history. This is a 25% increase from last year’s Ksh20.5 million ($160,000) and exceeds the Ksh19.2 million ($150,000) prize of the Boston Marathon in the U.S., known for its high prize money.
This was the first marathon for the 1:03:32 half-marathon runner, who was opening her 2026 season, following a 2025 season that saw her win two of her three half marathons in Prague and New Delhi in April and October, finishing fifth at the Antrim Coast Half Marathon.
Meanwhile, the men's race was won by Tanzania's Gabriel Geay in 2:08:08, finishing ahead of Ethiopia's Chimdessa Debele, who took silver in 2:08:08, with compatriot Emanuel Dinday completing a Tanzanian 1-3 in 2:08:16 in his debut in the classic distance.
