Cheruiyot, Chesang shine as Eldoret City Marathon 2026 delivers thrilling photo finishes

Eldoret came alive on Sunday as the Eldoret City Marathon 2026 produced dramatic finishes in both the men’s and women’s races, with Koech Cheruiyot and Dorrine Chesang emerging victorious after hard-fought battles that went down to the final kilometres.

In the men’s race, Cheruiyot powered to victory in 2:12:53 after a tense duel with Kiprotich Leonard, who finished just 30 seconds behind in 2:13:23. Kiplimo Hosea completed an all-Kenyan podium in 2:13:29, only six seconds further back, as the top three ran closely together for most of the race.

Cheruiyot revealed he battled a stomach issue in the final stages but recovered in time to surge ahead.

“The race presented some challenges; I was experiencing a stomachache up to the 35th KM but I managed to win after some relief in the final part of the race,” he said, dedicating his Sh3.5 million prize to buying land for his mother in Londiani.

The women’s race was equally competitive, with Dorrine Chesang clinching victory in 2:30:26 after fending off a late push from Margaret Muruiki, who crossed the line in 2:30:45. Jackline Jerono took third in 2:31:51, completing a tightly contested podium.

Chesang credited her win to disciplined preparation at a training camp in Trans Nzoia.

“The race was nice; I had prepared for it with thorough training at our camp in Trans Nzoia,” she said.

Each winner in the men’s and women’s categories walked away with Sh3.5 million, while second and third place finishers earned Sh1.5 million and Sh1 million respectively.

Eldoret County Governor Jonathan Bii reaffirmed the county’s commitment to using the marathon as a platform for youth empowerment, economic growth, and global sporting recognition, as the event continues to grow in stature.

Representing the Ministry of Sports, Kipchumba Ruto emphasized government support for athletics and urged diversification into other sports disciplines to expand employment opportunities for youth.

Held in Eldoret—widely regarded as the heartland of Kenyan distance running—the marathon also carried a strong climate action message, with organizers linking sport to environmental conservation efforts.

The close finishes and elite performances underscored Kenya’s continued dominance in long-distance running and the rising competitiveness of its marathon scene.