Chekole and Kibiwott Dominate as Milano Marathon Debuts Fast New Course with Standout Performances

Ethiopia’s Yeshli Kalayu Chekole and Kenya’s Vitalis Kibiwott delivered commanding victories at the 24th Wizz Air Milano Marathon, showcasing world-class performances on the event’s newly redesigned point-to-point course. In near-perfect racing conditions, Chekole surged to a breakthrough 2:20:15—one of the fastest times ever recorded in Milan—while Kibiwott powered away late in the men’s race to clock a personal best 2:06:35. With aggressive pacing, decisive moves in the second half, and a vibrant atmosphere lining the streets of Milan, the 2026 edition marked a new era for the race as it combined elite speed with a spectacular city-center finish.

Women's Race

Chekole won the women’s race in 2:20;15 setting the fastest time on Italian soil this year and the second best performance in the history of the Milano Marathon. The Ethiopian runner smashed her previous lifetime best of 2:21:17 set in Seville in 2022. She won her second marathon race this year three months after finishing first in Mumbai in 2:25:13. 

Ethiopia claimed the top four spots. Her compatriot Iddeessaa Eebbissee crossed the finish-line in 2:21:13 improving her previous PB by five minutes. Sintayehu Tilahun Getahun took third place in 2:25.29 ahead of her compatriot Ayele Gedamu Gebiyanesh, who dipped inside 2:26 with 2:25:54. Naomy Tuei Chepkorir was the top Kenyan finisher in fifth place in 2:26:06 ahead of her compatriot Agnes Keino (2:26:15), Ethiopia’s Sifan Demise Melaku (2:26:42) and 2022 world championships bronze medallist Judith Korir Jeptum from Kenya (2:26:48). 

Chekole went through the 10 km mark in 33:11 with a four-second gap over Korir, Gedamu, Iddeessaa and Getahun. 

The Ethiopian reached the 15 km in 49:31 inside a 2:19 pace. A chasing group formed by Gobena, Iddeessaa, Gedamu, Zewditu Gelaw, Cherotich, Demise and Getachew followed four seconds behind in 49:35. 

Chekole went through the halfway mark in 1:09:31 and increased her gap to 27 seconds over a quartet formed by Iddeessaa, Gobena, Gedamu and Gelaw. 

At the 25 km (1:22:16) Chekole had built a gap of 37 seconds. The Ethiopian runner continued running alone at a 3:18 pace for each km and reached the 30 km in 1:39:01, the 35 km in 1:55.53 and the 40 km in 2:12:15 before crossing the finish-line in 2:20:15. 

Yeshli Kayole Chekole: “My strategy paid off. I tried to remain relaxed in the first half and push in the second part of the race. I enjoyed the fast course and the support from the crowd”. 

Men’s race: 

Vitalis Kibiwott won the men’s race improving his lifetime best to 2:06:35. Kibiwott claimed the second win of his career after finishing first in Mersin in 2:07:14 last December. 

His compatriot Amos Kiprotich Kiplagat finished second in 2:08:14. Newcomer Labam Kiplimo completed the Kenyan podium smashing his previous PB by nine minutes to 2:08:23. Elkana Kipkemei Kiprop placed fourth in 2:08:42 with a gap of three seconds over Ayele Dinkalem Adane (2:08:45). Naman Kipyego took sixth place in 2:10:28 ahead of former 1500 metres world indoor silver medallist Ihlam Tanui Ozbilen from Turkey (2:10:47) and Stanley Biwott Kiprotich from Kenya (2:10:55). Mountain running specialist Xavier Chevrier was the top Italian finisher in ninth place with a PB of 2:11.50. 

The leading group formed by pacemaker Geoffrey Kipsang Kiboy, Dinkalem Adane Ayele, Vitalis Kibiwott, 2024 Milano Marathon winner Titus Kimutai Kipkosgei, Amos Kiplagat, Elkana Kiprop, Laban Kiplimo and Kelvin Maru went through the 15 km in 44:55 and the 21 km in 1:03:13.

The pack was whittled down to a quartet formed by Kibiwott, Kiplagat, Kiprop and Adane at 25 km. 

Kibiwot maintained a steady pace and pulled away from the rest of the field at 36 km and built a gap of 54 seconds over Kiplagat when he reached the 40 km in 2:00:00. 

Vitalis Kibiwott: “I am excited about running a marathon that has captured the attention of the global running community. I am happy with my PB on the new course. It was very fast. The record of runners taking part in this race made the atmosphere exciting”.  

The 2026 Wizz Air Milano Marathon marked a shift for the event, moving from the traditional loop format to a point to point course from Corso Sempione right at the foot of the Arco della Pace to Piazza del Duomo, offering a spectacular finish in front of the Cathedral. The first 13 km have been redesigned to be flatter and straighter. Runners passed through the modern skyscrapers of City Life and the San Siro Football stadium before heading toward the city centre. 

TOP RESULTS MEN'S MARATHON

TOP RESULTS WOMEN'S MARATHON

SEE FULL MILANO MARATHON 2026 RESULTS HERE.