CALI, MARATHON IN COLOMBIA SUNDAY.
Tough challenge for defending champions Mayaka and Ndiwa at the Cali Marathon
“Run in the Capital of Heaven” This is the slogan for the second edition of the Cali Marathon on Sunday. Organizers of the race in southwest Columbia are looking to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event and move it up the rankings. Their future ambition is to make it a major international marathon. One step closer “Runner’s Paradise” they have assembled another very strong elite field led by Kenya’s Ronald Korir and Eritrea’s Nazareth Weldu who have personal bests of 2:04:22 and 2:20:29 respectively. Defending champions Evans Mayaka and Kenya’s Emma Ndiwa are back but face an uphill task to cross the line first once again. No other marathon in South America has deeper fields than Cali.
Although record times will once again be recorded on Sunday, entry numbers have increased tremendously; A total of 20,000 athletes from 49 countries are registered for the event, which is: World Athletics Elite Label Road Race. This includes racing over shorter distances. Last year, organizers registered 11,000 applications. “We are really happy with the road Kali marathon developed in just one year. We do not plan to increase the total number of runners too much. But we want to have more marathon runners in the future. This year, 3,000 athletes are competing on the classical distance,” they said Race Director Luis Felipe Posso. Abel Anton The two-time Spanish marathon champion of 1997 and 1999, who was invited as the guest of honor, said:
At around 1000m, with humid conditions and a relatively warm temperature of around 20C, Cali is unlikely to see fast times. However, such conditions often make for dramatic racing, as was the case last year when the men’s winner came from behind in the closing stages. Kenyans Evans Mayaka and Emma Ndiwa both set Colombian all-time records of 2:11:04 and 2:29:26 respectively a year ago. “Our goal is to break these records again on Sunday,” said Luis Felipe Posso, who is hoping to see sub-2:10 on Colombian soil for the first time.
The men’s race has very good depth with five athletes running personal bests of sub-2:06. There are three others on the starting list who have run under 2:10. Evans Mayaka is just ninth on the list with a PB of 2:10:00, but the 38-year-old was in the same position last year and didn’t consider the odds.
Ronald Korirwho is the fastest entrant with his PB of 2:04:44, was nominated this time after finishing fourth in Berlin three years ago. In 2024, he had another great performance in Germany, finishing fourth in Hamburg in 2:05:41. “The last two years have been difficult for me with various injuries. Training for Cali went well, so I hope I can win on Sunday,” said Ronald Korir, who failed to finish the marathon in 2025.
In contrast, Kenyan Ezra Tanui has shown excellent form in his recent races. In 2025, he won all three marathons, taking part in the Doha and China’s JiLin and Yellow River races. The 28-year-old continued his strong run earlier this year, finishing third in Osaka with a PB of 2:05:55. “I am confident of my chances on Sunday. My personal best was two months ago in Osaka and since then my training has been going well. I’m not looking for a special time, but I’m confident in my ability to finish strong,” said Ezra Tanui.
Abel Kirui, Kenya, a two-time world marathon champion in 2009 and 2011, will hold her farewell race as a professional athlete. The 44-year-old, who won an Olympic silver medal in 2012, ran his PB of 2:05:04 in 2009.
In the women’s race. Fatima Gardadi is among the favorites. The Moroccan may only be number five on the start list with a PB of 2:24:06, but a race like Cali could suit him. The 34-year-old has excelled in the hot weather, claiming a stunning bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest and finishing tenth in the Olympic marathon in Paris a year later.
Nazareth Weldu from Eritrea is another athlete who performed very well in the World Championship. The 35-year-old was fourth in Eugene in 2022, running her PB and setting a national record of 2:20:29. In 2024, he won the Vienna City Marathon. “Sunday will be my first race since my daughter Annalisa was born in May last year. I don’t want to run any specific times, but I want to be competitive and I hope my strength allows me to do well in the race,” said Nazret Weldu.
Stacey Where? it is expected to be good. The Kenyan is the winner of the 2024 Los Angeles Marathon and ran his PB of 2:23:29 in Boston a year ago where he finished 9th. She is not related to the reigning champion Emma Ndiwa. The 30-year-old, who has a personal best of 2:25:15, had a dominant performance last year, winning the Cali Marathon in 2:29:26. With her PB of 2:25:15, however, she is not among the seven women on the start list who have run under 2:25:00.
Elite runners with personal bests
A MAN.
Ronald Corir KEN 2:04:2
Abel Kirui KEN 2:05:04
Okubai Tsegai IS 2:05:2
Eric Kiptanui KEN 2:05:47
Ezra Tanui KEN 2:05:55
Challa Gossa ETH 2:07:32
Martin Moussau UGA 2:08:42
Habtamu Birlew ETH 2:09:10
Evans Mayaka KEN 2:10:00
Derlys Ayala PAR 2:10:11
Ezra Dry KEN 2:11:55
Bernard Gay HOME 2:15:47
Mayko Geay TAN Debut
Brian Kwemoi KEN debut
David Wanjohi KEN debut
WOMEN.
Nazret Weldu ERI 2:20:29
Gladys Chesir KEN 2:20:30
Stacy Ndiwa KEN 2:23:29
Cynthia Kosgey KEN 2:23:43
Fatima Gardadi MAR 2:24:06
Letebrhan Haylay ETH 2:24:47
Sadiya Awel ETH 2:24:57
Emma Ndiwa KEN 2:25:15
Rosa Chacha ECU 2:26:43
Nigist Mulune ETH 2:27:41
Fatiha Benchatki MAR 2:28:29
Marcela Gomez ARG 2:28:58
Veronica Wanjiru KEN 2:29:03
More information is available online at: https://maratondecali.co/en
