Vienna Marathon 2026 Results: Kiprotich and Gezahagn Claim Titles as 43rd Edition Delivers Tight Finishes

The 2026 Vienna City Marathon delivered classic Austrian spring running on Sunday, 19 April, with two well-paced victories at the front of world-class fields. Kenya’s Fanny Kiprotich won the men’s race in 2:06:53, establishing a decisive lead in the final kilometres to finish 1:17 clear of Eritrea’s Oqbe Kibrom. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigist Gezahagn outlasted compatriot Haftamnesh Tesfaye by just 12 seconds to take the title in 2:20:06. Thousands of runners took to the streets of the Austrian capital for the 43rd edition of one of Europe’s most scenic city marathons.

Men’s Race: Kiprotich Breaks Clear for Clean Victory

Fanny Kiprotich delivered a commanding front-running performance to take the men’s title in 2:06:53. The Kenyan controlled the pace through the middle sections of the race and, once he made his move in the closing kilometres, there was no response from the chasing group. His margin of victory — 1:17 — was emphatic for a race of this calibre.

Eritrea’s Oqbe Kibrom ran a strong, disciplined race to take second in 2:08:10, holding off Kenya’s Charles Mneria (2:08:42) and Samwel Kiptoo (2:09:03). Simon Mwangi completed a Kenyan quartet in the top five with 2:09:05 — just two seconds behind Kiptoo. Ethiopia’s Tafese Delegen was the sole non-Kenyan/Eritrean in the top six, finishing in 2:09:55.

Europe had cause for celebration too. Hungary’s Ádám Lomb ran an impressive 2:12:48 for eighth place, while Austria’s Andreas Vojta pleased the home crowd with 2:15:07 in ninth — a strong result on familiar streets. Hungary’s Levente Szemerei rounded out the top 10 in 2:24:38.

Men’s Marathon — Top 10

Women’s Race: Gezahagn Wins Ethiopian Duel by 12 Seconds

The women’s race produced the closest finish of the day. Tigist Gezahagn and Haftamnesh Tesfaye ran together for most of the race in an Ethiopian duel that only resolved in the final kilometres. Gezahagn found the stronger finish, crossing the line in 2:20:06 — just 12 seconds ahead of Tesfaye’s 2:20:18. Both women delivered excellent performances well under 2:21.

Kenya’s Hellen Chepkorir was a strong third in 2:23:48, while a chasing group fought hard for the remaining top-five spots. Kenya’s Faith Chepkoech took fourth in 2:28:10, with Ethiopia’s Tegest Ymer just five seconds behind in 2:28:15. Ecuador’s Mary Zeneida Granja was sixth in 2:28:29.

USA’s Lindsay Flanagan produced a solid seventh-place finish in 2:28:34, representing American distance running well in Europe. Austria’s Eva Wutti was the top local woman in 10th with 2:42:37, capping a strong day for Austrian distance running alongside Vojta’s ninth-place finish in the men’s race.

Women’s Marathon — Top 10

The Course: Running Through Imperial Vienna

The Vienna City Marathon is one of Europe’s most scenic city marathons, taking runners on a 42.195 km tour of the Austrian capital’s most iconic landmarks. The course starts near the UNO-City in the city’s north and winds past the Prater (home to Vienna’s famous Ferris wheel), across the Danube, and into the heart of the imperial city.

Runners pass the Vienna State Opera, the Hofburg Palace, and the majestic Parliament building before the finish on Heldenplatz — the historic square in front of the Hofburg that has hosted some of Europe’s most memorable marathon finishes. The flat profile (with just a gentle rise across the Danube bridges) and the wide Vienna boulevards make it a course well-suited to fast times, while April’s typically mild spring weather provides favourable racing conditions.

The event also includes a popular half marathon, relay, and shorter distances, drawing tens of thousands of runners and spectators to make it one of Austria’s biggest annual sporting celebrations.

Kenyan Dominance, Ethiopian Class

The 2026 Vienna Marathon reflected the familiar pattern of elite European marathon racing: Kenyan depth in the men’s race, Ethiopian class in the women’s. Five Kenyans filled the men’s top five by time — with Kiprotich, Mneria, Kiptoo, Mwangi, and Cheserek all finishing in the top seven — while three Ethiopians claimed the women’s top five, led by Gezahagn and Tesfaye’s close duel at the front.

The strong showing from Eritrea’s Kibrom in second place in the men’s race was notable, continuing the steady rise of Eritrean marathon running that has seen athletes like Awet Nftalem Kibrab and Zerei Kbrom Mezngi make their mark on major European marathons this spring.

A Strong Showing from European Runners

Beyond the East African dominance at the front, the 2026 Vienna Marathon produced several strong performances from European athletes. Hungary’s Ádám Lomb was the fastest European man in eighth (2:12:48), while Austria’s Andreas Vojta delighted the home crowd with 2:15:07 in ninth — a notable achievement on familiar streets and continuing Austria’s tradition of competitive local performances at its home marathon.

Lithuania’s Vaida Zusinaite was the top European woman in eighth (2:35:29), while Austria’s Eva Wutti capped the day for the home nation with 2:42:37 in 10th. Both performances underscore the growing strength of European women’s distance running beyond the traditional French, German, and British powerhouses.

Key Takeaways from Vienna Marathon 2026

• Kiprotich’s decisive win: Fanny Kiprotich’s 2:06:53 was an emphatic victory — 1:17 clear of Oqbe Kibrom in second — the kind of dominant solo performance that marks a runner as a top-tier European marathon contender.
• Gezahagn edges Ethiopian duel: Tigist Gezahagn’s 12-second victory over Haftamnesh Tesfaye (2:20:06 vs 2:20:18) produced the closest finish of the day, with both women well under 2:21.
• Kenyan depth again: Five Kenyans in the men’s top seven — with Kiprotich, Mneria, Kiptoo, Mwangi, and Cheserek — showed the nation’s unmatched ability to produce world-class marathon fields.
• Eritrea rising: Oqbe Kibrom’s runner-up finish continues a strong season for Eritrean marathoners, following compatriots’ strong showings at Paris and beyond.
• Austrian pride: Andreas Vojta (2:15:07, 9th) and Eva Wutti (2:42:37, 10th) gave the home crowd two performances to celebrate in front of the iconic Heldenplatz finish.
• International field: The top 10 in both races featured runners from Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Hungary, Austria, Ecuador, USA, Lithuania, and Japan — confirming Vienna’s status as a truly international destination marathon.

Full official results including all finishers are available on the Vienna City Marathon official site.