Chepngetich world record intact as debutant Tesfay runs second-fastest marathon
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 16.03.26. | 09:00
The 28-year-old finished just 57 seconds off the Kenyan's record set in 2024
Ethiopian long-distance runner Fotyen Tesfay came within a minute of becoming the fastest woman in the marathon distance after running a sensational 2:10.53 in her debut race at the Zurich Barcelona Marathon on Sunday, 15 March.
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The 28-year-old, who came into the race as the third-fastest women’s half-marathon runner in history, added another feather to her cap as she dominated the field to storm to second on the world all-time list.
🤯NO ONE SAW THIS COMING…
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) March 15, 2026
Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay runs 2:10:53 for the 2nd-fastest time women’s marathon time ever…in her marathon debut to win the Barcelona Marathon‼️
That’s 4:59/mile for 26.2 miles.💥pic.twitter.com/h5dy92cv9s
Heading to the last kilometers, Tesfay, who recently finished eighth at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 in the 10,000m, looked set to shatter the women’s record held by Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich, but came short.
Chepngetich in 2024 became the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier, when she timed a sensational 2:09.56 to win the Chicago Marathon.
“Today was fantastic – not what I was expecting, but it is good,” Tesfay told World Athletics post-race.
“My plan was to attack the world record, but today there was a lot of wind, and I was not able to push in the last part of the race. Today I did not succeed, but in the next marathon I would like to try for the world record.”
Despite finishing only 57 seconds short of the record, Tesfay was rewarded with the fastest ever women’s marathon debut, an Ethiopian record, and the second-quickest performance in history.
Such was Tesfay’s dominance in the World Athletics Elite Label road race on Sunday, that she ended up finishing almost eight minutes ahead of her closest competitor, Kenya’s Jepkosgei Kiplimo, who came second in 2:18:42.
Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer, meanwhile, was third in 2:18:49.
Kenyans sweep podium in men's race
In the men’s race, Kenya swept the podium and the top four positions as Abel Chelangat used a late kick to fend off compatriot Patrick Mosin to win in a time of 2:04.57.
The pair had exchanged leads through the 40km mark, before Chelangat made a move as they reached the water station, and looked in control as he strode away with two hours on the clock.
Mosin, who could not offer a response, came second in 2:05.01, with another Kenyan - Jonathan Samanayo Korir - closing the podium in third in 2:05.29.
Finishing fourth was Moses Kipngetich Kemei, who clocked 2:05.53.