Tesfaye and Gezahagn lead strong elite women’s field at Vienna City Marathon 2026
It could well be the women who steal the headlines at the Vienna City Marathon on 19 April. Ethiopians Haftamnesh Tesfaye and Tigist Gezahagn headline a strong elite field and are targeting fast times. Race organisers are hopeful that the course record of 2:20:59 could be under threat—and potentially even the 2:20 barrier. Kenya’s defending champion Betty Chepkemoi will be eager to challenge that ambition.
A record total of over 46,000 athletes have registered for the 43rd edition of the Vienna City Marathon, which takes place across two days. While the figure includes shorter-distance events, around 13,000 runners will contest the marathon itself. The race holds World Athletics Elite Label Road Race status.
Could Vienna witness a Tesfaye 2.0 moment? Earlier this month, Foyten Tesfaye stunned the marathon world with a sensational debut victory in Barcelona, clocking 2:10:51 to become the second-fastest woman in history. While such times are likely out of reach here, her sister Haftamnesh Tesfaye arrives in Vienna as one of the leading contenders.
The 31-year-old produced an impressive 2:20:13 debut at the Dubai Marathon in 2018, which remains her personal best. After stepping away from the sport in 2020 to start a family, Tesfaye now returns to the marathon following several years away. Reports suggest she has trained well in preparation for Vienna, working within the highly successful group of Gemedu Dedefo in Addis Ababa. Her training partners include some of the world’s best, such as former world record holder and Olympic silver medallist Tigist Assefa, reigning Chicago Marathon champion Hawi Feysa, and Tigist Ketema, winner of both the Dubai and Berlin marathons in 2024.
Tigist Gezahagn has already shown strong form this season. The 26-year-old claimed victory in Doha in January, improving her personal best to 2:21:14. She now targets an even faster performance in Vienna, with the 2:20:59 course record firmly in her sights.
“Tigist has recovered well after Doha and her preparations for Vienna are going well. If the weather is favourable, a very strong performance is possible,” said her manager, former Swiss marathon record holder Tadesse Abraham. Gezahagn trains in Addis Ababa under coach Getamesay Molla.
Defending champion Betty Chepkemoi returns as one of the key contenders. The 25-year-old produced a breakthrough performance last year, dominating the race in freezing conditions to win in 2:24:14—a personal best by a wide margin. Remarkably, in just her second marathon, she improved by more than ten minutes from her debut in Istanbul five months earlier.
“My training is going well and I am happy to come back to Vienna. The goal is to improve my PB and, if possible, defend my title,” said Chepkemoi, who trains in Kapsabet under coach Claudio Berardelli, mentor to Sebastian Sawe.
Lindsay Flanagan is the fastest non-African athlete on the start list. The American owns a personal best of 2:23:31 from Chicago but has not raced a marathon since due to a hamstring injury. Vienna marks her long-awaited return to the distance at the age of 35.
Another athlete to watch is Faith Chepkoech. The 28-year-old Kenyan delivered a surprise performance in Vienna two years ago, finishing second on her marathon debut with 2:26:22 as part of the OPEC Fund Rookie Team. That mark remains her personal best, and she will be aiming to lower it significantly on her return.
