2026 Madrid Marathon: Mike Chematot and Kena Girma Take Control

Before the atmosphere or the numbers, one image lingers. The Paseo de Recoletos was packed tight, almost suffocating, waiting for the first strained faces to come through. Madrid loves its marathon, but the 2026 edition crossed a threshold. With 47,000 participants across the weekend and a seemingly endless waiting list, the flagship distance took centre stage, powered by a deep elite field and an ever-growing international peloton.

From the opening kilometres, the men’s race took shape around a strong group, with little in the way of risk but an almost mechanical consistency. Kenya’s Mike Chematot read the race perfectly. Without a sudden surge or an unnecessary flourish, he built his victory through steady control, handling the key moments and letting the selection happen naturally. His finishing time of 2:08:46 reflected that clean, almost clinical execution against a deep field.

Behind him, Ethiopia’s Asefa Mengisa in 2:09:05 and Dechasa Alemu in 2:09:10 kept the prospect of a comeback alive for a long time. But Madrid offers no mercy over the closing kilometres. The demanding, rolling course always exposes the gaps. The top 10 confirmed East Africa’s dominance, with Kenyans Philemon Bett and Gideon Chepkonga, along with Ethiopia’s Limenih Getachew, all capable of holding fast paces on a course far from ideal for record attempts.

For Spain, Jorge Puig Malvar made the most of his opportunity. Thirteenth in 2:24:26, he was the first home runner in a race where the overall standard left little room. It was a solid, well-managed performance that also highlighted the remaining gap to the international benchmarks on this kind of course.

Girma takes charge as Ethiopia answers back

The women’s race offered a different story, almost a mirror image. Where Kenya dominated the men’s event, Ethiopia took control of the women’s race. Kena Girma quickly settled into a steady tempo, not looking to blow the race apart but applying constant pressure to her rivals. It was an effective strategy, taking her to victory in 2:25:59 without a record, but with total command.

Her compatriot Amente Sorome Negash, runner-up in 2:27:42, tried to stay in touch for as long as possible but never truly looked capable of turning the race around. Kenya’s Leonida Mosop, third in 2:32:48, completed a podium shaped by the familiar rivalry between the two great distance-running nations.

Further down the field, one performance drew particular attention from the Madrid crowd. Estefanía Unzu, better known as “Verdeliss”, finished her marathon in 2:58:22. She took 13th place and was the first Spanish runner, to a reception that was unmistakably hers. It was a committed, all-in performance that fits an impressive personal trajectory and adds a popular dimension to an already exceptionally deep event.

Kenya locks out the half marathon

Before the marathoners reached the finish, the half marathon had already set the tone. There was no suspense here. Kenya took over. Kenya’s Gideon Kiprop won in 1:01:45 after gradually suffocating the opposition. Behind him, compatriots en 1h02’00 and Rodgers Plimo Minatum in 1:02:07 completed an all-Kenyan podium. A collective display that was almost clinical.

The first Spaniard, Carlos Mayo, finished sixth in 1:03:29, still feeling the effects of a recent injury. It was a respectable run in a race where the gaps opened quickly. In the women’s event, Isabel Barreiro Garcia defended her title in 1:12:25 with authority. The Spaniard managed her effort perfectly, leaving the Netherlands’ Sarah Bruun Nielsen, second in 1:18:27, and Marina Taberner Ramos, third in 1:20:44, in her wake. A controlled race from start to finish, with no real threat.

A tense, all-Spanish opening over 10K

The day had begun at a very different pace. Shorter and more explosive, the 10K produced an intense battle led by Spain’s runners. Local athlete Adam Maijó Frigola won in 28:58 after a tight duel with Yago Rojo Sancho, second in 29:09. Adrián Ben Montenegro completed the podium in 30:07. A hard-fought race where every change of pace mattered.

The women’s race was also dominated by a Spanish trio. Águeda Marqués Muñoz confirmed her return to the top with a 33:13 victory. Irene Sánchez-Escribano Figueroa finished just behind in 33:16, while Soledad Barrantes Borrella completed the podium in 37:44.

Madrid moves into another league

In the end, it is hard to reduce this edition to a single race. The Madrid Marathon is becoming a full-scale event, an entire weekend in which every distance tells its own story. With 47,000 runners, a huge international presence and its place within the “European Marathon Classics”, the shift appears to be complete.

✔ 2026 Madrid Marathon results