Seville Marathon Results: Finnish Record For Alisa Vainio, Photo-Finish Thriller For Shura Kitata

SEVILLE, Spain (Feb 15) – Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata and Finland’s Alisa Vainio claimed the men’s and women’s titles at the Zurich Seville Marathon 2026 on Sunday, a World Athletics Gold Elite road race that produced a gripping photo finish and a national record.

Exciting Zurich Seville Marathon Men’s Finish

Kitata edged compatriot Asrar Abderehman after a photo finish to win the men’s crown, with both athletes credited with 2:03:59, the second-fastest time in the history of the race. Another Ethiopian, Dejene Hailu, completed the podium in 2:04:15, while Kenya’s Justus Kipkorir Limo took fourth in 2:04:55.

The men’s race broke apart in the early kilometres as a large Ethiopian contingent, and Limo surged clear of the field, driving the pace inside course-record tempo before the final selection came over the closing stages. Kitata and Abderehman were inseparable down the home straight and threw themselves at the line before a photo review confirmed Kitata as the winner.

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Israel’s Bukayaw Malede was the leading European finisher in ninth place in 2:07:38 as Ethiopian athletes filled eight of the top 10 positions. American Daniel Mesfun set a personal best of 2:08:24 in 12th, one of a string of lifetime bests recorded on the fast Seville course.

Alisa Vainio Wins Women’s Race

In the women’s race, Vainio, fifth at the 2025 World Championships, stunned a strong African field to triumph against the world’s marathoners by winning in 2:20:39, a Finnish national record and the biggest victory of her career. She finished more than a minute clear of Kenya’s Beatrice Cheserek, who clocked 2:21:56, with Ethiopia’s Mulat Tekle fading late but hanging on for third in 2:22:03.

Italy’s Elisa Palmero crossed the line in 2:24:10 for fourth, while Spain’s Fatima Ouhaddou, representing the host nation in front of home support, took fifth in 2:24:16.

The Zurich Seville Marathon 2026 Results

Official results – men’s marathon

1. Shura Kitata (Ethiopia) – 2:03:59 PB
2. Asrar Abderehman (Ethiopia) – 2:03:59 PB
3. Dejene Hailu (Ethiopia) – 2:04:15 PB
4. Justus Limo (Kenya) – 2:04:55 PB
5. Capital Degefa (Ethiopia) – 2:05:36 PB
6. Ayana Tsedat (Ethiopia) – 2:06:32 SB
7. Feyisa Gudisa (Ethiopia) – 2:06:34 PB
8. Limenih Getachew (Ethiopia) – 2:07:16 SB
9. Bukayaw Malede (Israel) – 2:07:38 PB
10. Mamo Lotory Woldegiorgis (Ethiopia) – 2:07:50 PB
11. Embay Goitom (Ethiopia) – 2:08:19 PB
12. Daniel Mesfun (United States) – 2:08:24 PB
13. Ilias Fifa (Spain) – 2:08:36 PB
14. Ahmed Ouhda (Italy) – 2:08:37 PB
15. Adugna Takele (Ethiopia) – 2:08:46 SB
16. Ebba Tulu Chala (Sweden) – 2:08:48 SB
17. Habtamu Birlew (Ethiopia) – 2:09:10 PB
18. Paul O’Donnell (Ireland) – 2:09:19 PB
19. Andrew Colley (United States) – 2:09:33 PB
20. Ryan Creech (Ireland) – 2:09:39 PB
21. Reed Fischer (United States) – 2:09:47 PB
22. Chakib Lachgar (Spain) – 2:09:55 PB
23. Lelisa Nigasa (Ethiopia) – 2:10:01 PB
24. Hüseyin Can (Turkey) – 2:10:03 PB
25. Frank Lara (United States) – 2:10:06 SB
26. Clement Leduc (France) – 2:10:06 PB
27. Ellis Cross (Great Britain) – 2:10:09 PB
28. Ismael Kiprono (Kenya) – 2:11:00 PB
29. Wang Jiahao (China) – 2:11:17 PB

Official results – women’s marathon

1. Alisa Vainio (Finland) – 2:20:39 NR PB
2. Beatrice Cheserek (Kenya) – 2:21:56 PB
3. Mulat Tekle (Ethiopia) – 2:22:03 PB
4. Elisa Palmero (Italy) – 2:24:10 PB
5. Fatima Ouhaddou (Spain) – 2:24:16 SB
6. Jackline Chelal (Kenya) – 2:24:19 SB
7. Rebecca Lonedo (Italy) – 2:24:28 PB
8. Rabecca Chepkwemoi (Kenya) – 2:24:52 PB
9. Tereza Hrochová (Czech Republic) – 2:25:58 PB
10. Samrawit Mengsteab (Sweden) – 2:26:33 PB
11. Soboka Urge (Ethiopia) – 2:26:39 SB
12. Adawork Aberta (Ethiopia) – 2:26:52 SB
13. Clara Evans (Great Britain) – 2:27:03 SB
14. Ophélie Claude-Boxberger (France) – 2:27:27 PB
15. Salome Brun (France) – 2:31:34 SB
16. Naomi Taschimowitz (Great Britain) – 2:31:55 PB
17. Sarah Astin (Great Britain) – 2:35:16 PB
18. Melissah Gibson (Great Britain) – 2:36:38 PB
19. Margarita Macías (Chile) – 2:36:49 PB
20. Sara Duarte (Portugal) – 2:36:51 PB
21. Jessica Craig (Ireland) – 2:40:13 SB
22. Katie Rourke (Great Britain) – 2:41:36 PB
23. Anouk Heliot (France) – 2:41:52 PB
24. Alice Wright (Great Britain) – 2:42:50 SB
25. Ayse Burcin Sonmez Castelnuovo (Italy) – 2:43:06 PB
26. Estefania Unzu (Spain) – 2:45:39 PB
27. Claudia Andrighettoni (Italy) – 2:46:11 PB
28. Geraldine Simbola (France) – 2:46:23 PB
29. Alejandra Flores (Spain) – 2:46:29 PB
30. Louise Loisel (France) – 2:46:31 PB

Full results