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Новини спорту

Sports news: last weekend of February 2026

Новини спорту

Sports news: last weekend of February 2026

The world of athletics continues to amaze with a number of bright results, high-profile victories and new records. This week, read about setting a new track record at the Tokyo Marathon, the US Half Marathon Championships, how the Tel Aviv Marathon ended and much more.

In Tokyo,  Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele successfully defended last year’s marathon title, completing the distance in 2:03:37 in a tense finish sprint with two Kenyan rivals, Jeffrey Toroitich and Alexander Mutiso. Daniel Mateiko and Muktar Edris finished right behind them, while Italy’s Iliass Auani rewrote the national record with a 42 km run in 2:04:26. For the first time in his career, Olympic champion Selemon Barega approached the mark of 2:05:00.

An equally impressive result among women in Tokyo was shown by Kenyan star Brigid Kosgay, who set a track record of 2:14:29, which was her fastest time since setting a world record in 2019. Ethiopians Bertukan Velde and Javi Feisa took second and third places, respectively.

In the United States, at the national half marathon championships , Wesley Kiptoo (61:15) and Molly Bourne became the winners, who set a personal best of 69:43. The women’s race ended in controversy due to the fact that the leaders were taken off the track, but after considering the protest, the official results were left unchanged.

In Tel Aviv, Kenyan runner Simba Nyakunji won the 35th marathon, covering the distance in 2:10:14. Felix Kimutai finished second (2:12:21), and Vincent Yator (2:12:25) took third place. Among women, the fastest was Ethiopian Gabriala Baraki with a result of 2:35:20.  Gashaya Ayala (63:23) and Stella Mami Clement from South Sudan (71:56) won the half marathon. At a distance of 10 km the best were Godadau Belachev (28:52) and Caravan Halabi-Kablan (34:01).

In London, at the traditional Friday Nights Under the Lights race  in Bettersea Park, Izzy Fry updated the track record by running 5 km in 15:19. Eloise Walker lost only a second to her. Among men, the victory was shared by three athletes at once – Charles Wheeler, Andrew Penny and Tom Graham-Marr, who showed the same time – 13:50.

In Italy, at the  Rome-Ostia half marathon,  20-year-old Michael Temoi made a sensational debut, winning with a course record of 58:00 and entering the top ten fastest runners in the world. Kenyan athletes also formed the top three among women, where Janet Mutungi was the fastest.

In South Africa, at the Absa Run Your City Gqeberha race  , Kenyan Brenda Jepchirchir again confirmed her high form, winning the 10 km in 30:15. Among men, Adrian Wildshutt confidently won with a result of 27:47.

Victories of Kenyan athletes were also recorded in Bologna, Chandigarh, San Blas, and Torreona, where athletes consistently demonstrated high performance in marathons and half marathons. In India, Ruth Chelangat and George Nganga became the best among women and men, respectively, while in South Asia, at the CADICA Championships, victories were celebrated by Guatemalan athlete Marta Lydia Kosahai and Costa Rican Allan Stephen Quesada.

In Europe, there were also enough bright results. In Switzerland, Slovenian Klara Lukan became the winner of the 10-kilometer race in Payern, and among men, Nino Freytag won the championship. In Greece,  Olympic champion Winfred Javi won the World Military Cross Country Championships.

In Spain, at the half marathon in A Coruña , Venezuelan Edimar Brea set a personal record, and Kenyan Mishak Kirwa won among men.

The Lala Marathon in Mexico brought triumph to Risper Gesabwi and Wilfred Nyatogo.

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Ivan Kachkivskyi

Author Ivan Kachkivskyi

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