© Jakarta International Marathon
Jakarta International Marathon 2026: 45,000 runners battle the tropical heat
More than 45,000 runners from 52 countries, dominant Kenyan performances, a national champion who stopped mid-race to pray, and a tragedy that served as a reminder that Jakarta offers no easy victories. The 2026 Jakarta International Marathon delivered everything it promised—for better and for worse.
At 4 a.m. in Jakarta, something remarkable happens. The first calls to prayer echo from neighborhood mosques, the air is still warm after a tropical night, and the wide boulevards of Indonesia’s bustling capital—usually clogged with relentless traffic—suddenly belong to tens of thousands of runners. It’s an almost surreal sight in a city of more than 10 million people. And that’s precisely what makes the Jakarta International Marathon, or JAKIM to those in the running community, so special.
On June 14, the event celebrated its fourth edition as a World Athletics Elite Label race, attracting more than 45,500 participants, including 1,012 international runners from 52 countries. The numbers confirmed what many had suspected for the past couple of years: Jakarta is fast becoming one of the world’s emerging marathon destinations.
| Kennedy Njogu Muhia: the Kenyan who thrives on Asian roads
In the marathon, Kenya once again ruled the day. Kenyan runner Kennedy Njogu Muhia claimed the men’s elite title in 2:16:24. While the time may not stand out on paper, it takes on a different meaning in Jakarta’s brutal combination of heat and humidity, as Muhia himself explained afterward. “The biggest challenge today was the heat and the high humidity,” he said. “But I had prepared for these conditions since the Hong Kong Marathon in January. Thanks to disciplined training with my coach and teammates, I was able to win here in Jakarta.” Fellow Kenyan Ezekiel Kemboi Omullo completed a Kenyan one-two finish in 2:16:44, while Ethiopian Abdi Asefa Kebede took third in 2:20:05. An all-East African podium came as little surprise to anyone familiar with the international marathon circuit.
| Kenyan and Ethiopian women go head-to-head
The women’s race proved even more competitive, with the top two separated by less than a minute over 42.195 kilometers. Kenyan Alemnesh Herpha Guta took victory in 2:36:54, edging Ethiopia’s Meseret Dinke Meleka, who finished second in 2:37:50. Another Kenyan, Eunice Nyawira Muchiri, rounded out the podium in 2:39:18. Seven of the top ten finishers represented East Africa, including Kenya’s Elizabeth Chepcanan Rumokol, fourth in 2:39:30, and Ethiopia’s Misa Yimer Mohammed, seventh in 2:42:48. It was the kind of elite field you’d expect at any major international marathon, highlighting just how successfully JAKIM has attracted world-class competition despite its relatively young history.
| Local heroes driven by pride—and faith
One of the most emotional aspects of the Jakarta International Marathon is its national championship division, which carries enormous significance for Indonesian runners. Robi Syianturi won the men’s national title in 2:27:58, ahead of Nofeldi Petingko (2:28:21) and Sedilta Pilon Nubatonis (2:33:22). Yet what people remembered most wasn’t his finishing time but the remarkable story behind it. “At kilometer 14, I stopped for about three minutes to pray,” Robi explained. “Then I continued the race. Thank God, I was still able to finish first.”
A three-minute stop during a marathon, a prayer in the middle of the race, and still enough to claim the national title—it’s the kind of story that sounds almost too extraordinary to be true. In the women’s national championship, Isania Tarigan captured the title in 3:08:47, ahead of Cilpia Manalu (3:16:20) and Sharfina Sheila Rosada (3:27:29).
| Musau and Ndinda dominate the half marathon
The half marathon was another showcase for Kenyan distance running. Bernard Musau Wambua won the men’s race in 1:03:39, followed by fellow Kenyans Harrison Muchira Wanjiru (1:03:50) and Peter Ndungu Wanyoike (1:05:44). In the women’s race, Kenyan Fridah Ndinda Mweu crossed the finish line first in 1:15:22, just 15 seconds ahead of Indonesia’s Odekta Naibaho, who finished second in 1:15:37—an outstanding performance from the home favorite, who came tantalizingly close to an overall victory.
| A vision for a Southeast Asian marathon circuit
The ambitions of the organizers and public officials also caught plenty of attention. During the closing ceremony, Erick Thohir, Indonesia’s Minister of Youth and Sports—also well known in football as the owner of Italian club Inter Milan—put forward an idea that could reshape distance running in the region. “The world has the Boston Marathon and the Tokyo Marathon. Why shouldn’t Southeast Asia have its own marathon series? Hopefully, by 2027 or 2028, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines can create a shared marathon circuit for the region’s top runners,” he said.
The largest international contingents this year came from Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea, giving an early indication of the countries that could form the backbone of such a series. The economic impact is equally significant. According to race organizer IMRR, the 2026 Jakarta International Marathon is expected to have generated around 225 billion Indonesian rupiah (more than €11 million) in economic activity—well above the previous edition.
| The shadow of tragedy
Amid the celebrations, however, the event was overshadowed by tragedy. Agus Putranadi, a 29-year-old Indonesian runner from West Lombok, died during the half marathon. A security guard by profession and a passionate runner, he was taking on the distance for the first time. He collapsed at kilometer 14, near the main medical tent. Medical teams responded immediately before transferring him to Siloam Kebon Jeruk Hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that afternoon.
On social media, several runners reported difficulties accessing medical assistance in certain sections of the course, describing response times as too slow. JAKIM 2026 Medical Director Dr. Andhika Raspati acknowledged that emergency teams had been overwhelmed by multiple incidents occurring simultaneously across the course. A total of 257 medical personnel, supported by 10 medical tents and 21 ambulances, had been deployed, but the system ultimately struggled under the extreme tropical conditions. Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has since promised a thorough review of the event, with a particular focus on strengthening medical resources for future editions.
✔ Full results of the 2026 Jakarta International Marathon
Dorian VUILLET
Journalist
