Chepkirui Defends Title in Thrilling Duel at 2026 Nagoya Women’s Marathon

Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui successfully defended her crown at the Nagoya Women's Marathon on Sunday, March 8, 2026, holding off Japan’s Sayaka Sato in a dramatic sprint finish to win in 2:21:54. Sato finished just two seconds behind in 2:21:56, while Ethiopia’s Aynalem Desta secured third place in 2:22:37 after a closely contested race through the streets of Nagoya.

The race began under clear skies with a temperature of 8.9°C, humidity of 34.3%, and strong winds of 3.0 m/s that made conditions challenging for the elite field. Despite the wind, a lead pack featuring Chepkirui, Sato, Desta, and Japan’s Rika Kaseda passed halfway in 1:10:51, setting up a competitive second half.

After the pacemakers stepped aside around the 25 km mark, the tempo gradually thinned the lead group until only four contenders remained. The decisive moment came at 39 km, when Chepkirui surged to the front. Only Sato managed to respond, setting up a thrilling head-to-head duel over the final kilometers.

The two runners remained locked together all the way to the finish, with Chepkirui ultimately edging ahead in the final sprint to secure her second consecutive Nagoya title. After crossing the line, the Kenyan champion embraced Sato in a show of mutual respect following one of the closest finishes in the race’s recent history.

“I’m very happy to defend my title,” said Chepkirui after the race. “The wind was really strong, so I needed to keep a strong mind all the way to the finish line.”

Sato, who fought valiantly to the end, reflected on the tight finish: “It’s tough to lose the sprint at the end, but I believe I ran a good race today.”

Beyond the elite battle, the race once again showcased its global appeal as 17,101 women runners from Japan and around the world took part in the event, widely recognized as the largest women’s marathon in the world.

As part of the event’s 15th anniversary celebrations, special guest runner Juana Ramírez Hernández from Mexico’s Indigenous Rarámuri (Tarahumara) community captured the attention of spectators along the course. Running in her vibrant traditional attire, she finished in 2:48:25, improving her personal best by more than 20 minutes while inspiring the estimated 250,000 spectators lining the streets.

Every finisher received the race’s iconic award — a commemorative crystal tumbler crafted by the French luxury brand Baccarat — presented individually by volunteers dressed in tuxedos, one of the event’s most cherished traditions.

The celebration extended beyond race day, with the three-day Marathon EXPO attracting more than 100,000 visitors. Highlights included the “GO RUNWAY × GO WOMEN” fashion show featuring running-inspired styles and a special mini-concert by Japanese singer Ami Suzuki, who also performed the Japanese national anthem during the start ceremony.

Event organizers expressed gratitude following the successful staging of the race.

“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the runners for their participation and to all the volunteers, staff, and citizens of Nagoya for their support. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, we were able to successfully stage the event once again without any major incidents.”

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