The 41st edition of the Zurich Seville Marathon delivered one of the most dramatic finishes in the race’s history on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Ethiopia’s Tola Shura Kitata claimed the men’s title in a breathtaking photo finish, while Finland’s Alisa Vainio triumphed in the women’s race with a new national record. Held on what is widely recognized as the flattest marathon course in Europe, the 2026 edition attracted 17,000 runners — including 200 elite athletes — from over 100 nationalities, setting new participation records for the historic Andalusian event.
Men’s Race: Kitata Edges Abderehman in Photo Finish
The men’s race produced an unforgettable conclusion as Tola Shura Kitata and compatriot Abderehman Asrar Hiyrden crossed the finish line shoulder to shoulder, both recording an identical time of 2:03:59. Only the photo finish camera could separate them, awarding the victory to Kitata in what stands as the second-fastest time in the race’s history — just 32 seconds off the Seville course record.
The time also represents the world-leading marathon mark for 2026, reaffirming Seville’s reputation as one of the fastest marathon circuits on the planet.
The race unfolded with a strong Ethiopian-led pack pushing the pace from the early kilometers. A group featuring several East African contenders broke away early, with Capital Degefa and Tsedat Abeje Ayana sharing pacemaking duties through the first half. By the 25-kilometer mark, the lead group had been whittled down to an Ethiopian trio. The decisive moment came in the closing stretch when Abderehman launched a powerful surge that appeared to have sealed the victory — until Kitata produced a remarkable finishing kick to draw level on the line.
Men’s Top 10 Results
| Place | Athlete | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tola Shura Kitata | Ethiopia | 2:03:59 |
| 2 | Abderehman Asrar Hiyrden | Ethiopia | 2:03:59 |
| 3 | Justus Kipkorir | Kenya | — |
| 4 | Capital Degefa | Ethiopia | — |
| 5 | Tsedat Abeje Ayana | Ethiopia | — |
Note: Full detailed split times and complete results will be updated as official data is published by the race organizers.
Women’s Race: Vainio Surges to Finnish National Record
The women’s race was equally captivating, with Finland’s Alisa Vainio producing a masterful second-half performance to claim victory in 2:20:39 — a new Finnish national record, improving on her own previous mark of 2:20:48 set at the Valencia Marathon in December 2025.
Ethiopian debutante Mulat Tekle Godu boldly led the women’s field from the gun and maintained her advantage through 35 kilometers. However, the fast early pace eventually took its toll, and the 28-year-old Vainio, who had been biding her time in the chasing pack, moved through the field in the closing stages to seize control of the race. The Finnish star, who finished fifth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, became the first European woman to win the Seville Marathon since Spain’s Paula González Berodia in 2017.
Kenya’s Beatrice Jepchichir secured second place in 2:21:56, while Tekle Godu held on for third in 2:22:03 despite her late-race struggles. Italian debutante Elisa Palmero delivered a standout performance to finish fourth in an impressive 2:24:10. Spain’s own Fátima Azzaharaa Ouhaddou, the reigning European marathon champion, rounded out the top five with 2:24:16, narrowly approaching her personal best and comfortably achieving the qualifying standard for the upcoming European Championships.
Women’s Top 10 Results
| Place | Athlete | Nationality | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alisa Vainio | Finland | 2:20:39 |
| 2 | Beatrice Jepchichir | Kenya | 2:21:56 |
| 3 | Mulat Tekle Godu | Ethiopia | 2:22:03 |
| 4 | Elisa Palmero | Italy | 2:24:10 |
| 5 | Fátima Azzaharaa Ouhaddou | Spain | 2:24:16 |
Race Highlights and Key Takeaways
The 2026 Seville Marathon reinforced its status as one of the premier early-season marathons in the world. With only 38 turns and just 10 meters of elevation change across the entire 42.195-kilometer course, Seville continues to attract elite athletes chasing fast times and personal bests. The men’s winning time of 2:03:59 sets an early benchmark for the 2026 marathon season worldwide.
A total of 14 women finished under the 2:28 barrier, highlighting the remarkable depth of the women’s elite field. The race also saw strong Spanish representation, with Estefanía Unzu, known to her followers as “Verdeliss,” finishing as the second-fastest Spanish woman in 2:45:39, followed by local Sevillana Alejandra Flores in 2:46:29 — a new record for runners born in the province.
In the wheelchair category, multiple Seville champion Rafael Botello claimed victory once again in 1:56:04, while Carmen Giménez repeated her 2024 triumph to win the women’s wheelchair race.
The event’s international appeal was evident in the numbers: 8,954 foreign runners participated, representing 53.07% of the total field — a new record for the race. Women’s participation also reached a historic high at 21.42% of all entrants.
About the Seville Marathon
The Zurich Seville Marathon, first held in 1985, is a World Athletics Label Road Race held annually through the historic streets of Seville, Spain. The course passes iconic landmarks including the Giralda, the world’s third-largest cathedral, La Real Maestranza bullring, Torre del Oro, Plaza de España, and the Reales Alcázares royal palace. Recognized as the flattest marathon course in Europe, Seville has become a destination race for runners seeking fast times in ideal February conditions.
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