2026 Beijing Marathon begins, Ethiopian athletes win both men's and women's championships

China News Service, Beijing, October 18 (Reporter Guo Xuan) The 2026 Beijing Marathon and National Marathon Championships kicked off on October 18, with 32,000 runners starting from Tiananmen Square. Players from Ethiopia won the men's and women's categories.

Founded in 1981, the North Marathon is the oldest marathon event in mainland China. This year’s “double competition” between the Beijing Marathon and the National Marathon Championships attracted a number of high-level professional athletes such as Feng Peiyou, Wang Wenjie, and Tsering Tsomo to participate. In addition, the organizing committee also specially invited several top international athletes. The most famous is Ethiopian athlete Tora. He is a double gold medalist at the 2022 Oregon Track and Field World Championships and the 2024 Paris Olympics. His best time in the marathon is 2 hours, 02 minutes and 59 seconds.

At 7:30 a.m., the Beijing Marathon started with a gunshot on the east side of Tiananmen Square and ended at Landscape Avenue in the central area of ​​the Olympic Park. The total track length is 42.195 kilometers.

Ethiopian players swept the men's medals. Tola crossed the finish line first with a time of 2 hours, 03 minutes and 10 seconds, breaking the competition record of 2 hours, 07 minutes and 06 seconds set by Kenyan player Chisoriyo in 2019, and setting a new record for the fastest marathon finish in China.

Tola's compatriot Idris finished second with a time of 2 hours, 04 minutes and 34 seconds; another Ethiopian player, Gabre, ranked third with a time of 2 hours, 05 minutes and 10 seconds. The results of the top three men's teams all exceeded the original competition record.

On October 18, the 2026 Beijing Marathon and National Marathon Championships started with the gun fired in Tiananmen Square. Ethiopian athlete Tola (left) won the men's championship. Photo by Liu Xingchen

In the women's category, Ethiopian player Gennach successfully defended her title with a time of 2 hours, 20 minutes and 36 seconds. Chinese player Tsering Tsomo won the silver medal in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 48 seconds, setting a new personal best (PB). Chinese player Lu Ying ranked third with a time of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 24 seconds, also setting a new PB.

The top three in the men's group of the National Marathon Championships are Chen Tianyu, Jiang Fakun and Xie Yunce. The top three in the women's group are Tsering Tsomo, Lu Ying and Xia Yuyu.

Chen Tianyu won the North Malaysia domestic men's championship twice in 2023 and 2024. He said excitedly after the game that he was under a lot of pressure due to the large number of high-level players from North Macedonia this time. "Winning the championship this time is a testament to myself."

Tsering Tsomo won the women's marathon silver medal at the recent Aichi Nagoya Asian Games. Although she had a tight schedule to prepare for the Northern Marathon, she set a goal of breaking her PB and running under 2 hours and 25 minutes before the game. "The coach asked me to keep my rhythm steady in the first half and gradually increase my speed later. I am very satisfied that I was able to show my best condition today."