Aurélien Declosmesnil and Camille Chaigneau Rule at Seine Marathon 76

On September 27 and 28, Rouen came alive to the sound of 16,982 runners taking part in La Seine Marathon 76. Marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K races delighted endurance fans at the event’s seventh edition. The organizers’ aim is to bring runners together through festive races, with solidarity, environmental responsibility, sporting values and the chance to discover the local heritage at the heart of the weekend. Over the marathon distance, Aurélien Declosmesnil and Camille Chaigneau dominated the field.

The event has established itself as a true running festival in Normandy. La Seine Marathon 76 is renowned for its festive atmosphere, fuelled by Rouen’s crowds lining the course. The relatively flat route follows the banks of the Seine and cuts through the city centre. The Jardin des Plantes, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Gros-Horloge and Musée des Beaux-Arts make for a picturesque course that draws the crowds. No surprise, then, that entries had sold out well ahead of race day.

A first-time marathoner and a 100K world silver medallist

The winner was the man few people expected. Aurélien Declosmesnil raised his arms first after running away from the field over the marathon distance, clocking 2:32:17. It was a stunning debut for the 25-year-old, who had been forced to withdraw from the 2025 Paris Marathon on April 13 because of an injury. The victory rewarded a summer of hard work for the PE teacher, who only took up running two years ago. And he has no intention of stopping now that he has fallen in love with the sport. The race winner was followed by Paul Maes (AS Marck, 2:37:29) and Léo Crowet (2:38:19).

In the women’s race, Camille Chaigneau, the 2022 100K world silver medallist in Berlin, took the win in 2:47:09 for her third marathon of the year. An outstanding performance. Her time placed her eighth overall. Racing on home turf, the Rouennaise, who represents Dijon UC, left her rivals with no chance. Then again, Philippe Propage’s athlete knows herself extremely well. She ran the entire distance without a watch, relying solely on feel. Defending champion Fanjanteino Félix, a former international runner (Stade Sottevillais 76, runner-up in 2:56:54), and Laetitia Malandain (third in 3:16:49) completed the podium.

Aurélien Radja and Salomé Brun take 10K honours

The night-time 10K delivered a fine spectacle, with a strong field on the start line. U23 international Aurélien Radja (Stade Sottevillais 76) used his finishing speed to snatch victory in 29:17. Behind him, Youssef Mekdafou (Pierrefitte Multi Athlon, European team cross-country champion in Turin in 2022) took silver in 29:31, while Pierre Couzinier (Athlé Du Pays de Vannes) claimed bronze in 29:44.

The women’s race lived up to expectations too, with a commanding victory for Salomé Brun (AO Charenton). Coached by Jean-Jacques Minne, she set a new personal best of 33:02, improving on her previous mark of 33:30 set in March 2025 in Valenciennes. Runner-up was her clubmate and training partner, Clarysse Picard in 34:07, followed by Selina Leroy (Rouen Normandie Athlétisme), third in 34:11.

A successful half marathon and a 5K at your own pace

The half marathon was dominated by Gatien Durand (USM Malakoff), who won in 1:07:55. Adelin Grenier (1:08:40) and Mathis Pruniaud (1:10:13) finished second and third respectively. Blandine Vincent (AC Barentin) won the women’s race in 1:19:47, well clear of runners-up Emilie Boulier in 1:21:25 and Christine Martineau in 1:24:07. The event also featured a MATMUT 5K, which runners could tackle at their own pace as night fell.

The seventh edition of La Seine Marathon 76 produced compelling racing and a varied, sometimes unconventional, cast of winners. Beyond the individual performances, the running festival generated huge enthusiasm, with 16,000 participants turning up to test themselves against a picturesque backdrop. Runners also enjoyed the warm support of the Rouen crowd, who made themselves heard from behind the barriers. The next edition is scheduled for 2026, and it already promises plenty of excitement.

✔ Find all the results from the seventh edition of La Seine Marathon 76