Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2026 Elite Field Preview

The 2026 Nagoya Women’s Marathon promises another spectacular edition as one of the fastest and most prestigious women-only races in the world. Scheduled for March 8, the World Athletics Platinum Label event features a deep elite field led by defending champion Sheila Chepkirui, Japan’s national record holder Honami Maeda, and Ethiopian rising star Aynalem Desta, with 10 athletes entered under 2:22 in what could become one of the quickest races in the event’s history.

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Leading the elite lineup is defending champion Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya (PB 2:17:29), the winner of the 2024 New York City Marathon, who returns to Nagoya aiming to successfully defend her title. Among her strongest challengers is 22-year-old Ethiopian talent Aynalem Desta (2:17:37), a rising star with sub-2:18 credentials and ambitions of claiming one of the most prestigious women-only marathon titles.

The experienced Eunice Chebichii Chumba of Bahrain (2:20:02) is another serious contender, having repeatedly battled for top finishes in Nagoya. She will be joined by Kenya’s Selly Chepyego Kaptich (2:20:03), further strengthening the international front of athletes capable of shaping the race.

The global field also includes a diverse group of elite competitors from across the world, among them Majida Maayouf (Spain), Hayat Benhenia and Soukaina Atanane (Morocco), Genevieve Gregson (Australia), Argentina Valdepeñas Cerna (Mexico), and Katherine Camp (New Zealand).

Japan’s domestic lineup is equally impressive and exceptionally deep. Leading the home challenge is Japanese record holder Honami Maeda (2:18:59), who rewrote the national marathon record in 2024 for the first time in 19 years. She will be joined by Sayaka Sato (2:20:59), the top Japanese finisher in the 2025 race, 2024 Nagoya champion Yuka Ando (2:21:18), Tokyo Olympian Ayuko Suzuki (2:21:33), and 2023 World Championships representative Rika Kaseda (2:21:55). With multiple Olympians and global championship athletes on the start list, the battle among Japan’s top marathoners promises to be intense as they pursue qualification for the Marathon Grand Championship, Japan’s selection race for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Adding further intrigue, several Japanese track standouts known for their speed will step up to the marathon distance. Among them are Paris Olympic 10,000m representative Rino Goshima and marathon debutante Wakana Kabasawa, a Paris Olympic 5,000m representative. In another notable element of the race setup, Japan’s middle-distance star Nozomi Tanaka will serve as a pacemaker, helping guide the early pace toward a potentially historic performance.

Beyond the elite race, the Nagoya Women’s Marathon welcomes approximately 20,000 runners, celebrating participation and the joy of running while maintaining its status as the largest women-only marathon in the world. Each finisher who crosses the line will receive a race-exclusive crystal tumbler crafted by the French luxury brand Baccarat, a tradition that has become one of the event’s most recognizable symbols. This year’s design will be unveiled at the Marathon EXPO stage on the day before the race.

Separate press releases will be issued following the elite athletes’ press conference on Friday, March 7, and the race-day flash report on Sunday, March 8, as media outlets and fans worldwide follow what promises to be one of the fastest and most exciting women’s marathons on the global calendar.

Elite Athletes – Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2026