Running News Daily

Ethiopia enjoyed a memorable double triumph at the 2026 Hangzhou Marathon, with Kemal Husen and Kuftu Tahir Dadiso claiming the men’s and women’s titles respectively after battling through challenging weather conditions on Sunday, November 1.

The 2026 edition of the Hangzhou Marathon proved to be as much a test of resilience as it was of speed. As the race progressed, rising temperatures, humidity and an increasingly difficult thermal sensation placed enormous demands on the elite field, particularly during the closing stages.

In the men’s race, Kemal Husen emerged as the strongest competitor, producing a determined performance to secure victory in 2:11:16.

The race gradually developed into a battle of attrition as the difficult conditions began to take their toll. Rather than allowing the heat and humidity to dictate the outcome, Husen remained composed through the decisive stages and found enough strength to establish himself at the front.

His 2:11:16 was enough to put the Ethiopian on top of the podium and crown him the 2026 Hangzhou Marathon men’s champion.

Morocco’s Mustapha Houdadi followed closely behind, delivering an impressive performance to claim the silver medal in 2:12:04. Houdadi showed considerable strength in the latter stages, holding his position despite the increasingly demanding conditions.

Kenya’s Nicholas Kirwa completed the men’s podium after another hard-fought performance. Kirwa battled through the final kilometres to finish third in 2:12:50, ensuring Kenya also had a representative among the leading finishers.

The women’s race produced another Ethiopian celebration.

Kuftu Tahir Dadiso captured the women’s title in commanding fashion, crossing the finish line in 2:26:03 after navigating the increasingly difficult conditions with patience and determination.

Dadiso’s victory was built on strong race management. As the temperature and thermal stress intensified, the leading group began to feel the effects of the weather, transforming the final kilometres into a demanding test of endurance.

While others struggled to maintain their rhythm, Dadiso remained composed and continued to press forward. Her ability to manage the conditions allowed her to pull clear and secure a convincing victory.

The result also gave Ethiopia a dominant one-two finish in the women’s race.

Fellow Ethiopian Amid Fozya Jemal produced a gritty performance to take second place in 2:29:04. Jemal fought through the sweltering conditions to maintain her position and ensure that the top two places belonged to Ethiopia.

Kenya’s Mercy Kwambai completed the women’s podium, fighting relentlessly through the closing kilometres to secure third place in 2:30:23.

Kwambai’s bronze medal was a testament to her resilience on a day when the weather presented an additional opponent. With the heat and humidity placing increasing strain on the athletes, she dug deep to maintain her position and finish among the leading international contenders.

Together, the two races produced an intriguing picture of endurance under pressure. Ethiopia swept both individual titles and added a women’s silver medal, while Kenya collected bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s races.

The results also underlined the importance of adapting to conditions in a marathon. On a day when the weather made fast running increasingly difficult, victory belonged not simply to the athletes with the greatest speed, but to those who could conserve their energy, remain mentally composed and produce their strongest running when the race became hardest.

For Kemal Husen and Kuftu Tahir Dadiso, that balance proved decisive.

Husen conquered the men’s race in 2:11:16, while Dadiso dominated the women’s contest in 2:26:03.

Two champions. Two demanding races. One unforgettable Ethiopian double in Hangzhou.

The heat tested them. The marathon challenged them. But Ethiopia conquered Hangzhou.

If there’s such a thing as a First Family in athletics, then it has be the Tola-Dida clan from Ethiopia; and one of their favourite watering holes is the Dubai marathon, whose quarter century is celebrated with Sunday morning’s event. Current Olympic men’s champion Tamirat Tola won Dubai in 2017 (2.04.11), while spouse Dera Dida won in 2023 (2.21.11), on the same day that her brother-in-law, Tamirat’s younger sibling Abdisa won the men’s title (2.05.42).

Tamirat went on to greater things, with a world championship silver medal in London later in 2017, then gold in the delayed world championship in Eugene 2022, a New York Marathon victory in 2023, and the Olympic crown last year. This time round, he has a far more important task, staying at home and minding their daughter.

Because bringing their daughter (even with a nanny) to last year’s Dubai race may have distracted Dera from a repeat victory, though she still finished third in 2.19.29, two minutes faster than the previous year; but she’s left hubby to do the domestic chores this time, and comes determined to win her second Dubai Marathon while Tamirat watches on TV back home on the outskirts of capital Addis Ababa.

As befits a First Family, only the best is good enough, and their training group has got to be one of if not the strongest in the world.  Among her running partners are former marathon world record holder and Olympic silver medallist Tigst Assefa as well as the current marathon World Champion Amane Beriso. ‘I don’t train with the group every day,’ she said through an interpreter. ‘On a day to day basis, I train with Tamirat, but I join them occasionally. Since Tamirat won the Olympics, we’ve had a lot more media interest, but we try to concentrate on our running and not get too distracted’.

Well, her rivals (and compatriots) here in Dubai, Tigist Girma and Zeineber Yimer already have plenty to distact her, given that their respective best times, 2.18.52 and 2.19.07 are better than hers (2.19.24), but not so much as to deter her ‘I think I’m in shape to run the course record (2.16.07, set by another colleague Tigist Ketema last year); I hope that will be enough to win‘.

Another return winner has equally high aspirations, although injuries have ploughed a broad furrow between Lelisa Desisa’s glory days and Sunday’s race. Lelisa was one of many debutant winners in Dubai over the last decade or so, but his came in winning probably the most exciting race in Dubai Marathon history. On a rare foggy day in the Emirates, Lelisa emerged from the mists with a superb sprint finish to clock 2.04.45, and outpace four close pursuers who all finished within a handful of seconds, the first time five men had ever gone inside two hours, five minutes for a marathon.

Like Tamirat, Lelisa went on a have a superlative set of sequels, two victories and two second places in Boston and a win in New York, culminating with the world title on a torrid night in Doha 2019. A series of injuries and the pandemic halted his progress, but he maintains he’s back close to his best.

Following today’s press conference, he said, ‘I’ve been training with Milkesa (Mengesha), who won the Berlin Marathon last year, and with Deresa (Geleta), who finished second in Valencia; I think I’m as good, and they’re running 2.02/2.03. Things have changed a lot since I won here in 2013. At that time, we were thinking of 2.04 to 2.07 for a marathon, now we have to think of two hours! I think I can run a personal best on Sunday’.

Since his best remains the 2.04.45 from 2013, if he and his young rivals can get anywhere near that, they’ll be threatening the course record of 2.03.34that another colleague Getaneh Mollah ran here in 2019.

An intriguing entrant is former world record holder, Dennis Kimetto of Kenya. One of the shooting stars of recent marathon history, Kimetto had a short stellar career during which (in addition to other top victories) he won three of the most important marathons in the world, Chicago, Tokyo and Berlin, breaking the course record in each event, and setting a world record in the final one, in Berlin 2014. He was the first to run sub 2:03 (2.02.57) and his record stood for four years. Obviously, at ten days short of his 41st birthday, Dubai 2025 is going to be a very different challenge for Kimetto.

Elite runners with personal bests

MEN:

Dennis Kimetto KEN 2:02:57

Lelisa Desisa ETH 2:04:45

Dino Sefir ETH 2:04:50

Shifera Tamru ETH 2:05:18

Gebru Redahgne ETH 2:05:58

Ashenafi Moges ETH 2:06:12

Abay Alemu ETH 2:06:50

Mesfin Nigusu ETH 2:07:58

Tadele Demissie  ETH 2:08:25

Desalegn Girma ETH 2:08:30

Berehanu Tsegu ETH Debut

Boki Diriba  ETH Debut

WOMEN:

Tigist Girma ETH 2:18:52

Zeineba Yimer ETH 2:19:07

Dera Dida ETH 2:19:24

Etagegne Woldu ETH 2:20:03

Gadise Mula ETH 2:20:59

Bedatu Hirpa ETH 2:21:09

Beyenu Degefa  ETH 2:23:04

Kuftu Tahir Dadiso ETH 2:23:14

Tigist Geshaw ETH 2:24:39

Kebebush Yisma ETH 2:27:46

Mulugojam Ambi ETH 2:28:59

Betukan Welde ETH Debut

Etenesh Diro ETH Debut

Bekelech Teku  ETH Debut

Alem Tsadik ETH Debut