Underdog Koech Cheruiyot wins Eldoret City Marathon as Uganda’s Chesang claims women’s title
By Chemtai Kirui | Eldoret
Underdog Koech Cheruiyot surged clear late to win the 2026 Eldoret City Marathon, while Uganda’s Dorine Chesang claimed the women’s title on her debut Sunday.
Cheruiyot, who finished 21st in last year’s race, surged clear at the 38-kilometre mark to win in 2 hours, 12 minutes and 53 seconds, capping a dramatic turnaround that he later linked to a call from his mother on the eve of the race.
“She asked me to win so we can finally buy land,” Cheruiyot said after crossing the finish line. “That stayed with me.”
Leonard Kiprotich finished second in 2:13:23, while Hosea Kiplimo came third in 2:13:29.
In the women’s race, Chesang delivered a controlled performance on her Eldoret debut, breaking away from a lead pack of seven runners after the 30km mark to win in 2:30:26. Margaret Muriuki placed second in 2:30:45, with Jackline Jerono third in 2:31:51.
Chesang, who previously trained in the high-altitude hub of Iten, said the course felt less demanding than her training environment, despite Eldoret’s elevation of about 2,100 metres above sea level.
The seventh edition of the marathon, held in Eldoret’s “City of Champions,” drew elite and grassroots runners alike, maintaining its status as Africa’s highest-paying marathon with a total prize purse of 18 million Kenyan shillings. Both winners received 3.5 million shillings.
Prize money is subject to anti-doping clearance, organisers said, in line with measures aimed at protecting the integrity of the race.
Race organisers say the event is designed to widen access for athletes who may lack the resources to compete internationally.
“For only Ksh 1,200, an athlete can be known worldwide. They just need to board a matatu to Eldoret and show what they can do,” said race chairman Andrew Chelogoi.
The course, certified by World Athletics, winds through residential areas, turning the race into a community event with spectators lining neighbourhood streets. The high altitude and rolling terrain contribute to slower finishing times compared with sea-level races such as Berlin or London.
The race coincided with the London Marathon, drawing attention among fans who followed both races. Conversations in Eldoret also turned to the London Marathon, where Sabastian Sawe made history the same day by becoming the first athlete to officially run a sub-two-hour marathon, clocking 1:59:30. The mark surpasses Eliud Kipchoge’s 1:59:40 run in 2019, which, while groundbreaking, was achieved under controlled conditions and not ratified as an official record.
The achievement quickly became a talking point among fans and athletes gathered in Eldoret for the city marathon.
Beyond competition, the marathon retained its environmental focus under a “Run for Climate Action” theme. Organisers, in partnership with Uasin Gishu County, led a campaign targeting the planting of one million tree seedlings as part of its climate action initiative.
This year also introduced an inaugural one-mile race aimed at widening participation. Kelvin Kimutai and Naomi Korir won the men’s and women’s mile races respectively.
The event comes as Eldoret continues to position itself following its elevation to city status, with local leaders framing the marathon as both a sporting and economic boost.
Governor Jonathan Bii said the race had helped drive business activity over the weekend, while also reinforcing the region’s identity as a global athletics hub.
Athletics legend Kipchoge Keino was among notable figures in attendance, alongside regional leaders from the North Rift Economic Bloc.
Still, in Eldoret, the day belonged to Cheruiyot — an underdog whose victory, driven by family ambition, stood out in a field defined by both rising talent and established names.
