Ultimate champion Likina Amebaw and Egide Ntakarutimana will be among the leading contenders when the Cross Internacional Zornotza, the second Gold-level fixture of this season&rsquo;s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, takes place in the Spanish town of Amorebieta on Sunday (18).
Amebaw, who has been based in Spain for eight years, has enjoyed a superb 2026 &ndash; a year topped by her commanding 5000m win at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship last month in Budapest. On that occasion, the 28-year-old triumphed in scintillating fashion following a devastating change of speed. Just six days later, the Ethiopian star maintained the momentum by winning the 5km title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen thanks to a 14:41 clocking.
In addition, Amebaw improved her 5000m PB as she recorded 14:18.41 to win at the Golden Gala Diamond League meeting in Rome, five months after lowering her 10km career best in Valencia where she finished runner-up in 29:29.&nbsp;
Sunday&rsquo;s event will mark her third appearance in Amorebieta and she remains unbeaten so far having succeeded in both 2023 and 2025.
Although Amebaw had a few days off after Copenhagen, she remains the overwhelming favourite for the 8.7km race. But she will face Burundi&rsquo;s Francine Niyomukunzi who is also a double victor in Amorebieta having won in 2021 and 2024. The 27-year-old proved to be in the form of her life during the track season as she set massive PBs of 8:33.27 in Monaco and 14:41.46 in Rome for the 3000m and 5000m, respectively, but she had to settle for 18th in Copenhagen last month over 5km.&nbsp;
Niyomukunzi kicked off her cross-country campaign the following weekend with a clear win at the opening World Cross Country Tour Gold meeting of the season in Liding&ouml; over 15km.
Watch out too for the world mile bronze medallist Mirriam Cherop. The 27-year-old formed part of Kenya&rsquo;s gold medal-winning mixed relay team at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships and she won the Cross Country Tour Gold meeting in Albufeira in February, while she also holds a fine 30:59 10km PB set in June. Cherop will be joined by her compatriot Dorcus Chepkwemoi, the winner at last year&rsquo;s Venta de Ba&ntilde;os Cross Country Tour Gold race.
In the men&rsquo;s race, which will also be held over 8.7km, athletes from Burundi look poised to extend their winning streak to five consecutive editions, with Ntakarutimana seemingly the athlete to beat.
The 28-year-old made a major breakthrough this season. He clocked the second-quickest 5000m of the year thanks to his 12:46.73 national record performance at the Diamond League Final in Brussels just nine days after improving his 3000m career best to 7:28.13 in Zurich. Ntakarutimana then finished ninth in the 5km at the World Road Running Championships before winning the cross-country race in Liding&ouml; one week later.&nbsp;
He will be eager to improve on his sixth place from the 2024 Cross Internacional Zornotza. His compatriot Elie Sindayikengdera, fourth last year, should be his closest opponent. The 22-year-old, who was third in Liding&ouml;, holds a 13:01.96 5000m lifetime best set last year and he was 20th in the 5km in Copenhagen last month. They will be joined on the start line by Kenyan steeplechaser Peter Rono.
The Spanish hopes rest on Nassim Hassaous, who was runner-up last year, as well as steeplechaser Daniel Arce, Abdessamad Oukhelfen and European U20 cross-country silver medallist Oscar Gait&aacute;n.
Amorebieta hosted the 1993 World Cross Country Championships, where William Sigei and Albertina Dias took victory, and a then 19-year-old Paula Radcliffe made her senior international debut, finishing 18th.
The weather on Sunday is forecast to be cloudy with a high chance of rain, with temperatures around 14&deg;C during the early afternoon races.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics

Ultimate champion Likina Amebaw and Egide Ntakarutimana will be among the leading contenders when the Cross Internacional Zornotza, the second Gold-level fixture of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, takes place in the Spanish town of Amorebieta on Sunday

Amebaw and Ntakarutimana start as the favourites in Amorebieta

Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and Aynalem Desta will return to the TCS Amsterdam Marathon to defend their titles at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (18).
Both Kenya&rsquo;s Kipchumba and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Desta will want to build on the respective PBs of 2:03:30 and 2:17:37 they set when winning in the Dutch capital last year &ndash; Kipchumba breaking the course record and Desta running the third-fastest time ever achieved in Amsterdam.
They both again face some strong competition. Kipchumba is one of 11 men on the entry list to have broken 2:05, while Desta is joined by three of her compatriots who have also run under 2:20.
After setting his Dutch all-comers' record to win in Amsterdam, Kipchumba impressed again as he finished a close second at the Tokyo Marathon in March. In only the third marathon of his career so far, he missed his PB by just seven seconds and was denied after a sprint finish as he matched the time achieved by winner Tadese Takele.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Tsegaye Getachew was runner-up to Kipchumba in Amsterdam last year and after two wins &ndash; in 2022 and 2024 &ndash; he returns again, looking to regain the title. He went close to the PB of 2:04:18 he set in Amsterdam a year ago when running 2:04:32 to finish fourth in Seoul in March.
His compatriot Haymanot Alew is also among the leading contenders. Alew is second quickest on the entry list with a PB just one second off Kipchumba&rsquo;s &ndash; that time securing him a third-place finish in the Berlin Marathon in 2024. More recently, Alew ran his second-quickest marathon of 2:05:19 to finish fifth in Rotterdam in April and he now returns to race on Dutch soil again.
Israel&rsquo;s Maru Teferi, the 2023 world silver medallist, set his national record of 2:04:44 in Valencia in 2024 and will be on the hunt for another podium place after finishing third in Amsterdam in 2:05:42 that same year.
Others lining up with PBs under 2:05 include Uganda&rsquo;s 2023 world fifth-place finisher Stephen Kissa, contesting his first race of the year, plus Justus Kipkorir Limo, who ran 2:04:55 in Seville in February, and Lemi Berhanu, the 2016 Boston Marathon winner who won in Prague in 2:05:14 last year.
The entry list also stars Nicholas Kipkorir, the world half marathon silver medallist in Copenhagen last month who races his second marathon after clocking 2:06:07 in Boston in April, plus 2015 world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, Barcelona Marathon runner-up Patrick Mosin and Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi who makes his marathon debut after winning the Antrim Coast Half Marathon in 58:26 in August.
Desta came within 45 seconds of the course record of 2:16:52 set by Yalemzerf Yehualaw in 2024 when she improved her PB by more than four minutes to win in Amsterdam last year. A similar time might be needed if she is to retain her title as she faces her compatriots Meseret Belete and Mestawut Fikir, who have also broken 2:19, as well as 2:19:34 runner Buze Diriba.
While Desta, who finished third in the Nagoya Women's Marathon in 2:22:37 in March, has the benefit of experience in Amsterdam, so too does Belete. The 2:18:21 Belete clocked to win in Amsterdam in 2023 remains her PB.
Fikir ran 2:18:48 when finishing second in the Berlin Marathon in 2024 and she has a season&rsquo;s best of 2:20:00 &ndash; the second-fastest time of her career so far &ndash; achieved when placing seventh in Tokyo in March.
Diriba has dipped inside 2:20 in two marathons in the past 12 months, running her PB of 2:19:34 to win in Frankfurt last October and 2:19:54 to place second in Daegu in February.
Kenya&rsquo;s Evaline Chirchir finished one place behind Diriba in Daegu earlier this year in 2:20:51 and clocked 2:21:32 in Berlin last month. She is entered for her third marathon of the year alongside the likes of Bahrain&rsquo;s Desi Jisa Mokonin and Ethiopia&rsquo;s Yeshi Kalayu Chekole and Girmawit Gebrzihair.
<h3>Leading entries</h3>
Women Aynalem Desta (ETH) 2:17:37 Meseret Belete (ETH) 2:18:21 Mestawut Fikir (ETH) 2:18:48 Buze Diriba (ETH) 2:19:34 Desi Jisa Mokonin (BRN) 2:20:07 Yeshi Kalayu Chekole (ETH) 2:20:15 Nazret Weldu (ERI) 2:20:29 Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:20:33 Tiringo Mulu (ETH) 2:21:12 Stacey Chepkemboi Ndiwa (KEN) 2:23:42 Adanech Anbesa (ETH) 2:24:07 Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) 2:24:20 Rebecca Chepkwemoi (KEN) 2:24:52 Kena Girma (ETH) 2:25:56 Selamawit Teferi (ISR) 2:26:58 Mikky Keetels (NED) 2:30:42
Men Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba (KEN) 2:03:30 Haymanot Alew (ETH) 2:03:31 Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 2:04:18 Lemi Berhanu (ETH) 2:04:33 Maru Teferi (ISR) 2:04:44 Stephen Kissa (UGA) 2:04:48 Bute Gemechu (ETH) 2:04:51 Justus Kipkorir Limo (KEN) 2:04:55&nbsp; Bazezew Asmare (ETH) 2:04:57 Yihunilign Adane (ETH) 2:04:59 Patrick Mosin (KEN) 2:04:59 Kalipus Lomwai (KEN) 2:05:06 Yohei Ikeda (JPN) 2:05:12 Bayelign Teshager (ETH) 2:05:23 Jonathan Korir (KEN) 2:05:27&nbsp; Sila Kiptoo (KEN) 2:05:28 Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (ERI) 2:05:34 Mehdi Fr&egrave;re (FRA) 2:05:43 Victor Kipchirchir (KEN) 2:05:43 Tsedat Abeje Ayana (ETH) 2:05:47 Justus Kangogo (KEN) 2:05:57 Isaia Kipkoech Lasoi (KEN) debut

Geofry Toroitich Kipchumba and Aynalem Desta will return to the TCS Amsterdam Marathon to defend their titles at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race

Kipchumba and Desta to defend Amsterdam Marathon titles

<ul>
<li>Government assures all obligations will be met as Kenya begins preparations for World Athletics Championships Nairobi 29</li>
<li>Historic championships set to inspire a new generation and leave a legacy for athletics across Africa</li>
</ul>
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has met with Kenyan President William Ruto in Eldoret as preparations start in earnest for the World Athletics Championships Nairobi 29 &ndash; the first edition of the sport's flagship event to be held on African soil.
The meeting marked Coe's first visit to Kenya since Nairobi was awarded the 2029 World Championships by the World Athletics Council in September.
The two leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to delivering an outstanding championships and discussed the key requirements for ensuring the success of the event, including government commitments relating to funding, anti-doping and stadium preparations.
The discussions also reinforced the importance of treating the championships as a national priority, bringing together the expertise and resources needed to deliver an event that will showcase Kenya's sporting heritage and establish a legacy for athletics across the continent.
&ldquo;I was delighted to meet His Excellency President Ruto in his home city of Eldoret &ndash; the City of Champions &ndash; and reassured by his personal commitment to ensuring the delivery of a successful first World Championships in Africa,&rdquo; said Coe.
&ldquo;I have made no secret of my strong ambition and commitment for the World Championships to be awarded to a city on the continent, but we needed the right host, the right bid, the right circumstances. Nairobi has demonstrated emphatically that this is their moment to supercharge the development of athletics in Kenya and across Africa &ndash; leaving a compelling legacy that inspires a continent.
&ldquo;There are many factors determining a successful championship that Nairobi must deliver on and a major one is a full stadium, and so I call upon Kenya to uphold its stellar reputation for turning out in large numbers for our sport by having a sold-out stadium every night to create an electric atmosphere for our athletes.&rdquo;
Ruto welcomed the opportunity to build on Kenya&rsquo;s rich athletics heritage and reaffirmed his government&rsquo;s commitment to delivering a successful event.
&ldquo;Kenya appreciates the support from friends that led to the winning of the bid for hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships,&rdquo; he said.
&ldquo;Kenya has a long history and heritage in athletics; many of its athletes are also legends in the sport. I give my personal commitment and that of the Government of Kenya to deploy all resources possible to ensure that the World Athletics Championships 2029 in Nairobi will be a huge success.
&ldquo;All of the required obligations will be met,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is already undergoing major improvements for AFCON 2027, and will be further improved for the World Athletics Championships 2029.&rdquo;
Coe, joined by World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon, also met Cabinet Secretary for Sports the Honourable Salim Mvurya, Athletics Kenya President and World Athletics Vice President Jackson Tuwei and Nairobi 29 Bid Committee Chair Ibrahim Hussein.
Nairobi's successful bid was built on its growing experience of hosting major international athletics events, including the World U18 Championships in 2017, the World U20 Championships in 2021 and the annual Kip Keino Classic. The ongoing redevelopment of Kasarani Stadium will provide a centrepiece for the 2029 championships.
Kenya is one of the sport's most successful nations, with a rich athletics heritage shaped by generations of Olympic and world champions, including Kip Keino, David Rudisha, Faith Kipyegon and Eliud Kipchoge.
That history is matched by an extraordinary level of public enthusiasm for the sport. World Athletics research has identified Kenya as the most athletics-engaged market surveyed globally, underlining the opportunity to build on that passion through the hosting of the championships.
The 2029 World Championships in Nairobi will follow the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 and precede the 2031 edition in Munich, taking the sport's flagship event to three continents over three successive editions.
The historic first edition in Africa represents a major milestone in World Athletics' ambition to grow the sport globally, connect with new audiences and inspire future generations of athletes.

Government assures all obligations will be met as Kenya begins preparations for World Athletics Championships Nairobi 29

Coe and Kenyan President Ruto reaffirm shared commitment to successful 2029 World Championships in Nairobi

World half marathon champion Andreas Almgren will contest the 10,000m at the Bauhaus Galan &ndash; a Wanda Diamond League meeting &ndash; in Stockholm on 6 June 2027.
The announcement comes less than a month after Almgren set a European record of 58:06 to win the world half marathon title in Copenhagen. One month prior to that, the versatile Swedish athlete won the European 10,000m title in a championship record of 27:23.44, finishing 19 seconds ahead of his opponents.
The world bronze medallist is currently preparing to make his marathon debut in New York City on 1 November. He will skip the indoor season next year before making his track return in Stockholm.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really looking forward to racing the 10,000m at the Bauhaus Galan,&rdquo; said Almgren. &ldquo;Setting the European 5000m record (12:44.27) at Stockholm&rsquo;s Olympic Stadium in 2025 was one of the most incredible experiences of my career, and now I&rsquo;m aiming to top that over twice the distance.&rdquo;
The Bauhaus Galan is the seventh stop on the 2027 Wanda Diamond League. The series starts in Doha on 7 May and concludes with the Final in Zurich on 25-26 August.

World half marathon champion Andreas Almgren will contest the 10,000m at the Bauhaus Galan

Almgren confirmed for Stockholm return

An award for the best athletics photograph of the year will once again be presented as part of the World Athletics Awards in 2026.&nbsp;
Any professional photographer who has attended an athletics event in 2026 can take part in the World Athletics Photograph of the Year.&nbsp;
Photographers are requested to <a href="https://site.picter.com/2026-wa-photo-of-the-year-award" target="_blank" rel="noopener">submit one photograph via the online form</a> and include a caption, the date the photograph was taken, the image's technical information and a short photographer bio (no more than 50 words). Entries should be no larger than 5MB and must be received by 11:59pm Monaco time on 30 October.&nbsp;
A panel of five experts will judge all eligible photographs and select three finalists. The finalists will be revealed on 9 November and a fan vote to help determine the winner will be held on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/worldathletics" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Athletics&rsquo; Instagram channel</a> from 9-15 November.&nbsp;
The winner will be announced on 28 November, ahead of the World Athletics Awards taking place in Monaco on 29 November.&nbsp;
&bull; <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/6ace5c50093817b4f66ed77a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full contest rules&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
The panellists are:&nbsp;
Usain Bolt Jamaican sprint superstar Bolt has been the subject of some of the most iconic photographs in athletics. The fastest man of all time, he set his world 100m and 200m records of 9.58 and 19.19 during the 2009 World Championships in Berlin to win two of the 19 senior global titles he claimed throughout his sensational sprinting career. He retired in 2017 but remains involved in the sport, most recently through his role as Ultimate Legend for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. 
Christel El Saneh El Saneh is the digital creative manager at World Athletics, managing photography and visual content across digital platforms. She joined World Athletics in 2021 and covered the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games as a photographer. The long jumper has spent most of her life in athletics and her journey has included forming part of the IOC Young Leader and Young Reporters programmes.
Dawn Harper-Nelson During her highly successful athletics career, Harper-Nelson won four global medals in the 100m hurdles, including the Olympic title in Beijing in 2008. She also secured Olympic silver in 2012, as well as world silver in 2017 and world bronze in 2011. She is now an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, speaker and recently served as the infield host for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
Pascal Rondeau Rondeau started his sports photography career in London for the prestigious Allsport photography agency. He then led the photo department of L&rsquo;Equipe newspaper in Paris. Over the past 30 years, he has covered eight Summer Olympic Games and a range of other major sports events. He was appointed Venue Photo Manager at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games and Photo Chief at Paris 2024. 
Dan Vernon Vernon has been an athletics photographer and filmmaker for more than a decade, capturing many of the most iconic moments in the sport. He creates athlete documentaries and has covered two Olympic Games and numerous major athletics championships and one-day meetings, frequently capturing the action for World Athletics channels. He has documented the careers of athletes including marathon great Eliud Kipchoge.

An award for the best athletics photograph of the year will once again be presented as part of the World Athletics Awards in 2026. 

Best photographs of 2026 to be showcased as part of World Athletics Awards

World Athletics is inviting applications for two independent members to join its Nominations Panel ahead of the next cycle of appointments to various World Athletics bodies.
Established in 2019 as part of World Athletics' governance reforms, the Nominations Panel is responsible for identifying, recruiting and assessing candidates for positions on World Athletics commissions, panels and other bodies, and making recommendations to the World Athletics Council.
The panel is being expanded to provide additional capacity and expertise, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 World Athletics Election Congress. Following the expansion, it will comprise seven members, including five independent members.
World Athletics is seeking candidates with a strong background in athletics administration or significant experience in recruitment, appointments or human resources. Experience in sports administration is desirable.
The two successful candidates will be appointed by the World Athletics Council in December 2026, with their terms running until after the 2029 World Athletics Congress. The positions are voluntary and unpaid, with most of the panel's work conducted remotely.
Applications should include a CV, a covering letter outlining relevant experience, contact details and details of three referees.
Applications must be submitted to <a href="mailto:panel-candidates@worldathletics.org">panel-candidates@worldathletics.org</a> by 23:59 CET on Wednesday 4 November 2026.
Further information, including the full selection criteria and application requirements, can be found in the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/about-iaaf/documents/elections-appointments#collapseworld-athletics-nominations-panel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">position description</a>.

World Athletics is inviting applications for two independent members to join its Nominations Panel

World Athletics seeks two new members for Nominations Panel

<h3>The 2027 Wanda Diamond League season will begin in Doha on 7 May and end at the two-day final in Zurich on 25-26 August</h3>
<div>
 One of the most testing journeys in global sport will begin again next May as the Wanda Diamond League returns for its 18th season.
The full <a href="https://www.diamondleague.com/calendar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Diamond League calendar for 2027 has now been published</a>. From May to August, the world&rsquo;s best athletes will go head to head across 15 cities and four continents as they battle to qualify for the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich and win one of the sport&rsquo;s most prestigious titles.
The road to the final begins in Doha on 7 May before back-to-back Chinese meetings in Shanghai/Keqiao and Xiamen.
The series then heads to Rome on 27 May and touches down on African soil in Rabat three days later.
The sport&rsquo;s biggest stars return to Europe in June, with three stops in Oslo, Stockholm and Paris.
The US leg will take place in Eugene on 3 July, before meetings in Monaco, Lausanne and London later that month.
Athletes will have two more chances to pick up points in Silesia and Brussels in August, before the Wanda Diamond League Final in Zurich on 25-26 August.
The winners in Zurich will be crowned Diamond League champion in their discipline, joining <a href="https://www.diamondleague.com/results-standings/past-champions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a star-studded roll of honour</a> that includes some of the biggest names in athletics history, including Usain Bolt, Allyson Felix, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Faith Kipyegon and Mondo Duplantis.
Broadcast in more than 170 territories and reaching a social media audience of 6.8 million followers and 1.7 billion impressions worldwide, the Diamond League is the beating heart of the outdoor athletics season.
In 2027, it will also provide a crucial test of form ahead of the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27 in September.
2027 Wanda Diamond League calendar 7 May &ndash; Doha 15 May &ndash; Shanghai/Keqiao 22 May &ndash; Xiamen 27 May &ndash; Rome 30 May &ndash; Rabat 3 June &ndash; Oslo 6 June &ndash; Stockholm 25 June &ndash; Paris 3 July &ndash; Eugene 9 July &ndash; Monaco 13 July &ndash; Lausanne 17 July &ndash; London 15 August &ndash; Silesia 20 August &ndash; Brussels 25-26 August&nbsp; &ndash; Zurich (WDL Final)
</div>

2027 Wanda Diamond League season will begin in Doha on 7 May and end at the two-day final in Zurich on 25-26 August

Wanda Diamond League publishes 2027 calendar

Philemon Kiriago secured his second consecutive overall World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup title with victory in the classic race at D&eacute;fi des Couleurs in Quebec on Sunday (11), while Germany&rsquo;s Nina Engelhard completed a dominant weekend double.
Kenya&rsquo;s Kiriago won the approximately 16km classic up-and-down race in 1:11:24, holding off USA&rsquo;s Mason Coppi by 19 seconds, while Canada&rsquo;s Remi Leroux finished third in 1:13:21.
The result took Kiriago to 396 points in the overall World Cup standings, comfortably clear of compatriots Richard Atuya (290) and Michael Saoli (223), and confirmed his second successive overall title.
Kiriago had finished fourth in Saturday&rsquo;s uphill race but returned to the front 24 hours later. He pushed the pace from the opening climb and soon began to stretch the field, with Leroux and Coppi emerging as his closest challengers.
At the first summit Kiriago led Coppi by 22 seconds, with Leroux and Italy&rsquo;s Tiziano Moia following. The chasing group remained within range through the steep second ascent of Mont-Sainte-Anne, but Kiriago maintained control before the decisive final 4km descent.
Coppi closed strongly and reduced the gap in the closing stages, but Kiriago held on to take victory in 1:11:24. Coppi followed in 1:11:43, with Leroux third in 1:13:21. Mexico&rsquo;s Brayan Rodriguez finished fourth in 1:15:02, four seconds ahead of USA&rsquo;s Adam Sjolund.
Engelhard, meanwhile, completed a clean sweep of the women&rsquo;s races after following Saturday&rsquo;s uphill victory with another emphatic performance in the classic event.
The reigning world uphill and classic champion went to the front early and steadily opened a gap on the first climb. Kenya&rsquo;s Joyce Muthoni Njeru and USA&rsquo;s Erin Moyer initially led the chase, while France&rsquo;s Nelie Clement also moved into contention.
By the first summit Engelhard&rsquo;s advantage had grown to more than a minute. Clement then passed Njeru on the second climb and briefly looked set for second place, but Njeru used her descending strength to regain the position with about 3km remaining.
Engelhard was never threatened and went on to win in 1:20:34, more than three minutes clear of Njeru, who finished second in 1:23:45. Clement was just six seconds behind in third, with Italy&rsquo;s Arianna Dentis fourth in 1:27:09 and Moyer fifth in 1:27:11.
Njeru&rsquo;s runner-up finish proved significant in the battle for the overall women&rsquo;s World Cup title. With leader Ruth Gitonga unable to travel to Canada because of visa issues, Njeru drew level with her compatriot on 384 points.
Gitonga nevertheless retained the overall title on countback, having recorded more victories during the season. Britain&rsquo;s Kirsty Skye Dickson finished third overall with 264 points.
The classic race also decided the final discipline standings. Gitonga won the women&rsquo;s classic classification with 150 points, ahead of Njeru (92) and Dentis (84). Saoli topped the men&rsquo;s standings with 100 points, while Ephantus Njeri and Atuya tied for second on 92.
A day earlier, Engelhard had laid the foundations for her weekend double with a commanding victory in the uphill race, held over a course beginning near the Jean Larose Falls before climbing just over 3km through the ski slopes to the summit of Mont-Sainte-Anne.
The German moved ahead early and had already created a gap by the 2km point. Dickson, Njeru and Canada&rsquo;s Elisa Morin initially formed the chase group, but Engelhard continued to extend her advantage on the climb.
She eventually won in 31:43, finishing 1:49 ahead of Dickson, who clocked 33:32. Moyer completed the podium in 33:44, with Clement fourth and Switzerland&rsquo;s Celine Aebi fifth.
The men&rsquo;s uphill race produced a surprise victory for USA&rsquo;s Meikal Beaudoin Rousseau.
A group of about 10 athletes, including Kiriago, Leroux, Cameron Smith and Mason Coppi, remained closely bunched through the flatter opening 2km before the race began to stretch out on the climb.
Leroux initially led with Kiriago close behind, but Beaudoin Rousseau made the decisive move approaching the finish and went on to win in 28:55.
Leroux finished second in 29:04 and Smith third in 29:12, while Kiriago was fourth and Italy&rsquo;s Andrea Elia fifth. Britain&rsquo;s 21-year-old Edward Hobbs finished sixth.
The uphill races also determined the final World Cup standings in that discipline. Atuya won the men&rsquo;s title with 142 points, ahead of Kiriago (110) and Patrick Kipngeno (100).
Njeru took the women&rsquo;s uphill title with 134 points, with Dickson second on 126 and Gitonga third on 110.
The D&eacute;fi des Couleurs weekend brought the 2026 WMRA World Cup to a close, with Kiriago and Gitonga crowned overall champions after a season spanning uphill, classic and long-distance racing.
With assistance from Kirsty Reade (WMRA)

Philemon Kiriago secured his second consecutive overall WMRA World Cup title with victory in the classic race at Défi des Couleurs in Quebec

Kiriago retains WMRA World Cup title as Engelhard completes Quebec double

Hawi Feysa retained her Bank of America Chicago Marathon title in 2:13:33 and Amos Kipruto won the men&rsquo;s race in 2:01:09 as both athletes moved up the world all-time lists at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (11).
Feysa produced a decisive late surge to defeat two-time Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi, improving her PB by 84 seconds to move to fourth on the world all-time list. Lokedi followed in 2:14:07, moving to eighth all time, while former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei was third in 2:14:55. It was the first marathon in history in which three women finished inside 2:15.
Kipruto, meanwhile, completed his progression through the Chicago podium positions. Third in 2024 and second last year, the Kenyan broke away from pre-race favourite Jacob Kiplimo in the second half and held on for a 2:01:09 victory &ndash; a 30-second PB that moves him to equal fifth on the world all-time list alongside Eliud Kipchoge.
The women set off aggressively from the start. A lead group of seven &ndash; Feysa, Kosgei, Lokedi, Joan Kilimo, Brillian Kipkoech, Sutume Asefa Kebede and Loice Chemnung &ndash; reached 5km in 15:36, equivalent to 2:11:39 marathon pace.
By about 7km, Feysa and Kosgei had started to pull away. They reached 10km in 31:04, nine seconds ahead of a chase group containing Lokedi, Kilimo, Kipkoech and Chemnung.
Feysa was a stride ahead of Kosgei as they passed 15km in 46:41, still operating at 2:11 pace. Behind them, the chase group had been reduced to Lokedi, Kilimo and Chemnung, who trailed by 12 seconds.
But the leaders were not able to make the break stick. Lokedi and Chemnung gradually closed the gap and by halfway four women were together at the front. They had passed 20km in 1:02:31 before reaching the half-way point in 1:06:06.
The quartet remained intact through 25km, but the complexion of the race began to change over the next five kilometres. Lokedi led Feysa through 30km in 1:34:16, while Kosgei had slipped 11 seconds behind and Chemnung was a further 30 seconds back. By 21 miles, Feysa and Lokedi were together with a 35-second advantage over Kosgei.
Neither could shake the other. They reached 35km in 1:50:23 and were still side by side through 22 miles in 1:51:43. Kosgei remained within striking distance, 39 seconds behind, but the contest for victory had developed into a duel between Feysa and Lokedi.
They passed 24 miles in 2:02:16 and mile 25 in 2:07:27. Even with little more than a kilometre remaining, there was nothing between them. Then, with about 2:10 on the clock, Feysa made her move.
The Ethiopian suddenly opened daylight and, after more than an hour of close racing with Lokedi, the gap grew remarkably quickly. Feysa covered the final mile strongly enough to put 34 seconds into her rival, breaking the tape in 2:13:33.
The performance took 84 seconds off the PB of 2:14:57 she set when winning in Chicago last year and lifted her to fourth on the world all-time list. It was the third major marathon victory of Feysa&rsquo;s career, following her wins in Frankfurt in 2024 and Chicago in 2025.
Lokedi was rewarded with a huge PB of 2:14:07 in second, moving her to eighth on the world all-time list. Kosgei completed an exceptional podium in 2:14:55, making it the first marathon in history to produce three sub-2:15 finishers.
Mary Ngugi-Cooper was fourth in 2:17:23 and Kilimo fifth in 2:18:39. Australia's Isobel Batt-Doyle set an Oceanian record of 2:20:38 in sixth, while Emma Grace Hurley was the leading US finisher in seventh. Her 2:20:47 clocking is the fastest ever marathon debut by a US woman.
<h2>Kipruto takes control after Kiplimo surge</h2>
The men&rsquo;s race was similarly ambitious from the outset. A six-man group comprising Kipruto, Kiplimo, Tadese Bikila, Milkesa Mengesha, Boki Diriba and Daniel Mateiko passed 5km in 14:18. A chase pack led by Vincent Mauri reached 5km in 14:53, and by 10km &ndash; which the leaders passed in 28:37 &ndash; they were about a minute adrift.
The leading six remained together through 15km in 42:55 and 20km in 57:13 before reaching halfway in 1:00:21, eight seconds quicker than Sabastian Sawe&rsquo;s halfway split during his 1:59:30 world record run in London earlier this year.
Behind them, Mauri was producing an eye-catching run of his own. The self-coached US athlete, who does much of his training on a treadmill and ran 2:05:54 on his marathon debut in Ohio earlier this year, began to break away from the second group. He reached halfway in 1:02:15, 17 seconds clear of his nearest pursuers and on course for a time well inside 2:05.
Up front, the six-man group finally started to fracture after halfway. Kiplimo led through 25km in 1:11:19, alongside Mateiko, Kipruto and Bikila. Mengesha and Diriba had started to lose ground and the leaders were now operating at course record pace.
Soon afterwards Kiplimo increased the tempo again. His move, with about 1:17:30 on the clock, broke apart the group, with Kipruto the only athlete initially able to respond. The pair then covered the five kilometres to 30km in 13:58, reaching that checkpoint in 1:25:28 &ndash; a projected finishing time of 2:00:12.
Kiplimo and Kipruto remained together through mile 20 in 1:31:51, but the balance then began to shift. Kipruto edged a second ahead by mile 21 and had stretched that advantage to 12 seconds by 35km, which he passed in 1:39:58.
Kiplimo&rsquo;s challenge faded rapidly from that point after sustaining a hamstring pull. Kipruto was 17 seconds clear at 22 miles and 47 seconds ahead by 23 miles, while Bikila and Mengesha began to close on the Ugandan. By mile 24, Kipruto&rsquo;s advantage over Kiplimo had grown to 1:32. He reached 40km in 1:54:31 with Bikila now up into second.
Kipruto continued on to win in 2:01:09. The performance took 30 seconds off the PB he set when finishing fourth in London in April and moves him alongside Kipchoge at equal fifth on the world all-time list. When Kipchoge ran 2:01:09 in Berlin four years ago, it was a world record.
For Kipruto, the 2019 world bronze medallist, it was a second World Marathon Majors victory following his triumph in London in 2022.
Bikila finished strongly to take second in a PB of 2:02:56. Mengesha also came through in the closing stages to claim third in 2:03:46, passing Kiplimo, who finished fourth in 2:04:18. Diriba and Mateiko were fifth and sixth, both timed at 2:05:01.
Clayton Young was the leading US finisher in seventh, improving his PB to 2:05:23 and moving to second on the North American all-time list. Charles Hicks followed in 2:05:35, with Akira Akasaki ninth in 2:05:47.
Mauri, whose early pace had put him on course for a significant breakthrough, was forced to stop briefly with what appeared to be cramp shortly after 21 miles. He nevertheless recovered to finish 10th in 2:06:45.
<h3>Leading results</h3>
Women 1 Hawi Feysa (ETH) 2:13:33 2 Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:14:07 3 Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:55 4 Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:17:23 5 Joan Kilimo (KEN) 2:18:39 6 Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:20:38 7 Emma Grace Hurley (USA) 2:20:47 8 Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:20:59 9 Magdalyne Masai (KEN) 2:21:11 10 Loice Chemnung (KEN) 2:21:18
Men 1 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:01:09 2 Tadese Bikila (ETH) 2:02:56 3 Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:03:46 4 Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 2:04:18 5 Boki Diriba (ETH) 2:05:01 6 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:05:01 7 Clayton Young (USA) 2:05:23 8 Charles Hicks (USA) 2:05:35 9 Akira Akasaki (JPN) 2:05:47 10 Vincent Mauri (USA) 2:06:45

Hawi Feysa retained her Bank of America Chicago Marathon title in 2:13:33 and Amos Kipruto won the men’s race in 2:01:09

Feysa and Kipruto triumph in swift Chicago races

It was a fleeting exchange at a press conference, but it touched on a much wider issue.&nbsp;
Speaking at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone earlier this year, Zaynab Dosso and Elaine Thompson-Herah were both asked about the mental side of elite sport.&nbsp;
Italian sprinter Dosso was clear about the importance she places on it. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s very important to speak about mental health,&rdquo; said the world indoor 60m champion. &ldquo;You can train however many hours you want, but if your head doesn&rsquo;t follow then you&rsquo;re not going to get anywhere.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Last September I started working with a psychologist. Every single athlete should take care of their mental health because it&rsquo;s just as important as their physical health.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The same question was then put to Thompson-Herah. &ldquo;Coming back from injury has been challenging, mentally and physically,&rdquo; said the five-time Olympic champion.&nbsp;
&ldquo;But I&rsquo;m a tough cookie. I&rsquo;ve never been to therapy, I don&rsquo;t believe in it. I&rsquo;m my own therapy. I do believe in God, though. I also have a supportive team who believes in me, and I believe in myself.&rdquo;&nbsp;
The contrast was striking. Both athletes acknowledged the mental challenges of elite sport, yet they had very different ideas about how to deal with them.&nbsp;
Across a sport spanning more than 200 countries, there are inevitably huge differences in the way mental health is understood, discussed and treated. Professional psychological support may be commonplace for some athletes. Others may turn first to family, friends, teammates or coaches. Elsewhere, stigma, lack of awareness or limited access to services can make the route to support far less straightforward.&nbsp;
US 800m runner Juliette Whittaker has spoken with remarkable openness about her own experience. During her time at Stanford University, Whittaker won two individual NCAA titles before qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Her results suggested a young athlete whose career was progressing almost perfectly.&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aca521625032d32c4d73ea3.jpg" alt="Juliette Whittaker in action at the US Olympic Trials" />
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Juliette Whittaker in action at the US Olympic Trials (&copy; Getty Images)
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The reality was very different. She later described it as the &ldquo;hardest, saddest and loneliest&rdquo; year of her life.&nbsp;
After winning her first NCAA title, the happiness had disappeared by the following day. After the second, it lasted less than an hour. Whittaker responded by setting herself another target, believing that perhaps reaching the Olympics would finally make her feel differently. It didn&rsquo;t.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I truly believed that if I ran well enough, achieved enough, proved myself enough, I would finally feel enough,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;
Instead, her sense of self-worth became increasingly tied to her performances. When running stopped providing the fulfilment she expected from it, she struggled to know where else to find it. After returning from Paris, her mental health deteriorated further. Feelings of emptiness became guilt and shame, and she stopped telling people how badly she was struggling.&nbsp;
In May 2025, Whittaker attempted to take her own life.&nbsp;
Friends found her and took her to hospital. She spent a week in a psychiatric unit and later attended group therapy three days a week, while also taking the longest break from running she had ever had.&nbsp;
Whittaker credits the people around her with playing a huge part in her recovery. &ldquo;At a time when I had completely given up on myself, I had villages of people who refused to give up on me,&rdquo; she said, speaking at Stanford&rsquo;s GameFaces event earlier this year.&nbsp;
&ldquo;One year ago, I was in a hospital bed with absolutely no desire to live,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;Today I&rsquo;m standing in front of you.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Her experience also changed the way she viewed athletics. &ldquo;Running is a huge part of my life,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;But it is not all of me. It is not the source of my worth.&rdquo;&nbsp;
After spending so long keeping her feelings to herself, she had learned another lesson: &ldquo;Asking for help is one of the bravest things you can do.&rdquo; But asking for help assumes an athlete recognises what is happening to them, feels able to talk about it and knows where to turn.&nbsp;
Research in recent years has examined some of those barriers in different parts of the world.&nbsp;
A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12559114/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025 paper on mental health among elite runners in Kenya</a> highlighted the importance of cultural and socioeconomic context. Its authors pointed to issues including the availability, accessibility and affordability of mental-health services, and cautioned against assuming that approaches developed in wealthier countries can simply be transferred elsewhere.&nbsp;
A separate <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11133729/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2024 study involving 20 Chinese elite athletes</a>, as well as coaches and team officials, found that cultural attitudes and sporting environments could influence whether athletes sought help. Participants spoke about issues including depressed mood, competition anxiety and sleep problems, while stigma &ndash; including fears of being regarded as weak &ndash; was among the barriers identified. Athletes were often more comfortable turning first to teammates, friends or parents than to formal mental-health services.&nbsp;
Kenya&rsquo;s Wilfred Bungei recognises some of that from his own experience. The 2008 Olympic 800m champion has spoken openly about his problems with alcohol and mental health after his competitive career ended.&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aca52b425032d32c4d73ea6.jpg" alt="Wilfred Bungei in action at the 2008 Olympics" />
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Wilfred Bungei in action at the 2008 Olympics (&copy; Getty Images)
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Among his wake-up calls were missing important engagements because he had been drinking, and realising that his children were uncomfortable being in the car with him when they knew he was drunk. Looking back 10 years or more, Bungei says alcoholism and mental-health problems in Kenya were often seen as matters of personal choice.&nbsp;
&ldquo;People with mental-health problems were stigmatised,&rdquo; he says. He believes attitudes have improved since then and there is now more empathy, although some of that stigma remains.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The talk behind the scenes doesn&rsquo;t indicate a society that has fully embraced mental-health issues,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Most people would rather suffer from the inside than be open.&rdquo;&nbsp;
For Bungei, his family was crucial in recognising that he needed help. &ldquo;Family is the first pillar,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;If one&rsquo;s family accepts that this person is sick and needs help, the individual wouldn&rsquo;t care much about what society says because they know, &lsquo;I have people who care&rsquo;.&rdquo;&nbsp;
He has sometimes compared alcoholism with diabetes when trying to explain to people that addiction is an illness rather than simply a personal failing. &ldquo;The first thing is accept who you are and don&rsquo;t care about the noise,&rdquo; he says.&nbsp;
Bungei also believes athletes need more help preparing for life after competition. &ldquo;Athletes retire early in life and they have money and plenty of free time,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Remember, athletes live a strict life 365 days a year as sportsmen and women.&rdquo;&nbsp;
He says there is still no clear roadmap in Kenya to help athletes cope with that transition. He has, however, since found another role within the sport. Through his work with the World Athletics Media Academy, he says he has regained a sense of &ldquo;purpose and responsibility&rdquo; from training as a commentator.&nbsp;
He hopes eventually to use that platform to speak more widely about mental-health issues affecting sportsmen and women in African countries, and what could be done to support them.&nbsp;
Singapore&rsquo;s Shanti Pereira has spoken about a different kind of mental struggle during the years between her early breakthrough and her rise to the top of Asian sprinting.&nbsp;
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/6aca5171ae11116b0ebad078.jpg" alt="Sprinter Shanti Pereira of Singapore" />
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Sprinter Shanti Pereira of Singapore (&copy; Getty Images)
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After winning the SEA Games 200m title on home soil in 2015, Pereira found it difficult to deal with the expectations that followed. Results stalled, injuries followed and, in 2018, she lost both her Sport Excellence Scholarship and her university scholarship within the space of a week.&nbsp;
Speaking to CNA in 2022, she said that physically she still felt capable of running personal and national records, &ldquo;but mentally I wasn&rsquo;t there&rdquo;.&nbsp;
&ldquo;There was a lot of self-doubt that kind of grew as the years went by,&rdquo; she said. At times she lost her motivation and became afraid of performing badly even in training.&nbsp;
The uncertainty extended beyond athletics. Pereira described going through an &ldquo;identity crisis&rdquo; as she struggled for form while also questioning what she wanted to do outside the sport.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I started to believe what people said about me, that maybe I&rsquo;ve reached my end,&rdquo; she told CNA. &ldquo;And if so, who was I?&rdquo; Talking to people close to her helped her change that mindset.&nbsp;
In a later first-person article for CNA, Pereira recalled reaching the point where she was &ldquo;so afraid of even approaching the start line&rdquo;, before gradually learning to separate other people&rsquo;s opinions from how she viewed herself.&nbsp;
Her career since then has taken a very different path. After defending her Asian Games 200m title in 2026, Pereira reflected on how much she had changed.&nbsp;
&ldquo;She used to be so scared of everything &ndash; scared of her competitors &ndash; and I really let the pressure get to me last time,&rdquo; she said of her younger self. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m very proud of the person I&rsquo;ve become.&rdquo;&nbsp;
There is increasing recognition within sport that those differences matter. The <a href="https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/new-ioc-consensus-statement-calls-for-system-wide-action-and-regular-monitoring-to-support-athlete-mental-health" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Olympic Committee&rsquo;s updated 2026 consensus statement on mental health in elite athletes</a> recommends that treatment should be individualised, evidence-based and culturally responsive. It also highlights barriers including stigma, low mental-health literacy, concerns around confidentiality and athletes&rsquo; fears about possible consequences such as deselection.&nbsp;
The statement stresses that responsibility does not sit only with the athlete. The environment around them &ndash; including coaches, support staff, safeguarding systems and sporting organisations &ndash; can also influence their mental wellbeing.&nbsp;
The experiences of Dosso, Thompson-Herah, Whittaker, Bungei and Pereira are very different, and none should be taken as representative of an entire country or culture. But they show why conversations about mental health in a global sport cannot follow one template.&nbsp;
Some athletes will readily talk about psychologists, therapy, depression or anxiety. Others may first talk about pressure, loneliness, confidence or simply not feeling like themselves. Some will seek professional treatment, while others will rely heavily on the people around them.&nbsp;
What matters is that athletes are able to recognise when they are struggling, know that seeking support is an option, and have somewhere appropriate to turn when they need it.&nbsp;

It was a fleeting exchange at a press conference, but it touched on a much wider issue. 

Different voices, shared challenges: mental health in athletics 

Jacob Kiplimo and Hawi Feysa will return to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to defend their titles against deep international fields at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (11).
Kiplimo heads back to Chicago having significantly improved his marathon credentials since winning there 12 months ago, while Feysa faces a women&rsquo;s field that includes former world record-holder Brigid Kosgei and two-time Boston champion Sharon Lokedi.
Kiplimo won in Chicago last year in 2:02:23, finishing more than a minute ahead of Kenya&rsquo;s Amos Kipruto in what was just the Ugandan&rsquo;s second race over the distance.
He has since enjoyed a remarkable 2026. After claiming his third consecutive title at the World Cross Country Championships, he broke the world half marathon record with 57:20 in Lisbon &ndash; a mark that has since been improved &ndash; and then produced another breakthrough over 26.2 miles.
At April&rsquo;s London Marathon, Kiplimo finished third in 2:00:28 as Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha became the first two men to officially break two hours for the distance. Kiplimo&rsquo;s time put him third on the world all-time list and improved his own Ugandan record by almost two minutes.
It is also seven seconds faster than the Chicago course record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
&ldquo;My preparation has given me a lot of confidence, and having raced this course before is a real advantage,&rdquo; said Kiplimo.
He will renew his rivalry with Kipruto, who followed him home in Chicago last year and then finished one place behind him in London in April. The 2022 London champion clocked a PB of 2:01:39 on that occasion, making him the second-fastest man in a field that includes six sub-2:04 performers.
Milkesa Mengesha, the 2024 Berlin Marathon champion, returns to the USA after finishing 10th in Boston in April. The Ethiopian has a best of 2:03:17. His compatriot Tadese Takele retained his Tokyo Marathon title in March in 2:03:37. Kenya&rsquo;s Daniel Mateiko was fourth in that race in a PB of 2:03:44 and will also line up in Chicago.
Another Ethiopian, Asrar Hiyrden, completes the group of sub-2:04 entrants. He ran 2:03:59 in Seville in February.
Several athletes just outside that group will be looking to make another step forward. USA&rsquo;s Charles Hicks ran 2:04:35 to finish seventh at the Boston Marathon in April, while Suguru Osako holds the Japanese record of 2:04:55.
Hicks is part of a strong US contingent that also includes Clayton Young, who ran 2:05:41 in Boston, 2017 Chicago champion Galen Rupp and Vincent Mauri, whose 2:05:54 victory in Toledo earlier this year marked a major breakthrough.
South Africa&rsquo;s Adriaan Wildschutt, Japan&rsquo;s Tomoki Ota and Thailand&rsquo;s Kieran Tuntivate &ndash; all of whom hold national records at other distances &ndash; are among the athletes making their marathon debuts.
While Feysa is the defending women&rsquo;s champion, Kosgei has perhaps the strongest historical connection with the Chicago course.
The Kenyan won there in 2018 before returning the following year to clock 2:14:04, taking 81 seconds off Paula Radcliffe&rsquo;s long-standing world record. She has not raced in Chicago since that performance.
Now 32, Kosgei has returned to some of her best form this year. She won the Tokyo Marathon in March in 2:14:29 &ndash; the second-fastest time of her career and an Asian all-comers&rsquo; record.
Feysa was third in that race in 2:17:39, having enjoyed the biggest victory of her career in Chicago five months earlier. The Ethiopian pulled away from the field to win the 2025 race in 2:14:57, more than two minutes ahead of compatriot Megertu Alemu.
Alemu returns this year, as does Sutume Kebede, whose 2:15:55 PB makes her the third-fastest woman in the field. Both raced in Tokyo earlier this year, where Kebede and Alemu finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Lokedi, meanwhile, will race in Chicago for the first time. The Kenyan has established herself as one of the world&rsquo;s leading championship-style marathon racers, having won the New York Marathon in 2022 before taking back-to-back Boston titles in 2025 and 2026.
She retained her Boston crown in April in 2:18:51, with two more Chicago entrants &ndash; Loice Chemnung and Mary Ngugi-Cooper &ndash; completing the podium. Chicago will provide Lokedi with her first opportunity to race one of the flatter, faster courses on the major marathon circuit.
Brillian Kipkoech is another Kenyan arriving on the back of a victory. She improved her PB to 2:17:05 to win in Hamburg in April and is one of seven women in the field with a best inside 2:18. Degitu Azimeraw, the 2021 London runner-up, is another member of that group. Chemnung, Joan Kilimo, Magdalyne Masai, Fantu Worku and Ngugi-Cooper have all broken 2:20.
Kilimo, just 22, achieved her 2:18:40 best when finishing runner-up in Barcelona in March, while Worku ran 2:19:08 for third in Dubai at the start of February.
The home challenge includes Susanna Sullivan, Natosha Rogers, Sara Hall and Dakotah Popehn. Emma Grace Hurley, meanwhile, is among the intriguing debutantes. She returns to Chicago having set a US 8km record at the Shamrock Shuffle earlier this year, while Mexico&rsquo;s Laura Galvan and Great Britain&rsquo;s Amy-Eloise Neale will also contest their first marathons.
<h3>Leading entrants</h3>
Women Brigid Kosgei (KEN) 2:14:04 Hawi Feysa (ETH) 2:14:57 Sutume Kebede (ETH) 2:15:55 Megertu Alemu (ETH) 2:16:34 Brillian Kipkoech (KEN) 2:17:05 Sharon Lokedi (KEN) 2:17:22 Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) 2:17:58 Loice Chemnung (KEN) 2:18:24 Joan Kilimo (KEN) 2:18:40 Magdalyne Masai (KEN) 2:18:58 Fantu Worku (ETH) 2:19:08 Mary Ngugi-Cooper (KEN) 2:19:26 Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32 Yuka Akasaki (JPN) 2:21:33 Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:21:56 Des Linden (USA) 2:22:38 Isobel Batt-Doyle (AUS) 2:22:59 Natosha Rogers (USA) 2:23:28 Dakotah Popehn (USA) 2:24:20 Jess Warner-Judd (GBR) 2:24:45 Laura Galvan (MEX) debut Emma Grace Hurley (USA) debut Amy-Eloise Neale (GBR) debut
Men Jacob Kiplimo (UGA) 2:00:28 Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:01:39 Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:03:17 Tadese Takele (ETH) 2:03:23 Daniel Mateiko (KEN) 2:03:44 Asrar Hiyrden (ETH) 2:03:59 Charles Hicks (USA) 2:04:35 Suguru Osako (JPN) 2:04:55 Mohamed Reda El Aaraby (MAR) 2:05:18 Clayton Young (USA) 2:05:41 Sondre Moen (NOR) 2:05:48 Vincent Mauri (USA) 2:05:54 Yemane Haileselassie (ERI) 2:06:06 Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:07 Akira Akasaki (JPN) 2:06:15 Boki Diriba (ETH) 2:06:26 Hendrik Pfeiffer (GER) 2:06:34 Rory Linkletter (CAN) 2:06:49 Abbabiya Simbassa (USA) 2:06:53 Tomoki Ota (JPN) debut Kieran Tuntivate (THA) debut Adriaan Wildschutt (RSA) debut

Jacob Kiplimo and Hawi Feysa will return to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon to defend their titles

Kiplimo and Feysa return to defend Chicago titles

Zuzana Costin is a former athlete turned official, currently the only active female technical official in the world to hold both World Athletics Gold Level Referee and Gold Level Race Walking Judge qualifications.
The two-time Olympian, who competed in the 20km race walk at the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games, most recently served as a race walking judge and referee during the World Athletics U20 Championships Oregon 26. While there, she reflected on her journey in athletics. 
You hold both World Athletics Gold Level Referee and Gold Level Race Walking Judge qualifications &ndash; currently the only active female technical official in the world to do so. What does this achievement mean to you? 
"There are three of us who hold both qualifications but, yes, I am the only female official. It&rsquo;s quite amazing to have achieved this. I always try to do the best that I can, therefore it&rsquo;s nice to see that the work I have put in was recognised, and it paid off." 
When you first began your journey as a technical official, did you ever imagine you would reach this level? 
"No, I didn&rsquo;t. I got involved in athletics at a very young age. My dad (Jozef Malik) was the Vice President of the federation (Slovak Athletic Federation) for several years and was active as an administrator, coach and also as an official, so I grew up in the world of athletics. Any time he organised any competitions, I was helping out. So it has always been a part of my life and I never thought about it too much at that stage. Achieving this level in officiating in athletics after finishing my racing career gives me a strong sense of accomplishment and satisfaction." 
Throughout your career, have there been mentors who helped shape your journey?
"Undeniably, my dad played a big role at the beginning of my journey and he has kept supporting me since.
"After retiring from being an athlete, I started to officiate in Ireland on a regular basis (I had moved there a few years beforehand). I met with support and encouragement to pursue this to an international level. I was very lucky that I was immersed in an environment where people knew what they were doing, not just on a local level but on an international one, too. So, whenever I came across any problems, I had people I could rely on.
"After passing the Silver level exam, I started getting appointments at European competitions and there were always senior technical officials who were happy to share their knowledge and experience with &lsquo;newbies&rsquo;.
"That was also the case during one of my first big international appointments as a member of the Jury of Appeal at the European Championships in Berlin where Anna Riccardi was our chief. She took me under her wing, gave me confidence and guided me through this new experience.
"During the Covid-19 pandemic, European Athletics began organising online webinars for technical officials, focusing heavily on the practical aspects of officiating. Those webinars were primary led by Chris Cohen and Niels van der Aar and they helped me to become a more knowledgeable and effective official.
"Later, I was selected for the European Athletics mentoring programme for technical delegates and was appointed as a mentee technical delegate for the European Championships in Rome. I was fortunate to have Chris and Niels as my mentors; their guidance provided invaluable insights and allowed me to expand my knowledge even further." 
What practical support is most beneficial for upcoming female officials during the early stages of their careers?
"Having someone you can turn to, talk to and learn from is major. Mentorship is something you can&rsquo;t replace, especially when you are trying to excel.
"After World Athletics changed its educational programme for officials to the current one, it really opened the door for younger people. Originally, the educational programme and exams to become an international official were only in English, which could be a bit of a barrier for people who don&rsquo;t have a good standard of English. That is still the case for the Gold level. And this could be something that a mentor could help with &ndash; dismantling the language barrier. However, for the lower levels, World Athletics has gradually introduced more languages in which its certification courses and exams can be taken. This shift definitely benefits new candidates who don&rsquo;t have a sufficient command of English." 
Since you started your career, have you seen an increase in more female judges, applicants or volunteers for athletics?
"Absolutely. I don&rsquo;t remember seeing many female officials in the leading positions when I started, and that has definitely changed now. Also, World Athletics&rsquo; encouragement to member federations to enter an equal number of female and male candidates for exams has started to pay off. Panels of international officials are now nearly gender balanced.
"I have also seen a growth in the numbers of younger officials, with more opportunities and positions available for them. It&rsquo;s more achievable and something that one can work towards now." 
What kind of advice would you give someone, especially a younger woman, who is interested in following your footsteps or becoming a judge in athletics?
"Now is the right time. Ask your federation about upcoming courses and exams. If you get opportunities to take part in them or you get any appointments, don&rsquo;t turn them down because you can always learn something. You might not succeed all the time, but you learn from the experience.
"It is also important to believe in yourself and to have someone, or a group of people, that you can get support from.
"It is nice to see new candidates growing in confidence. When they first get started, it&rsquo;s all very nerve-racking and there&rsquo;s so much going on all at once &ndash; it creates a lot of feelings of fear. But that&rsquo;s a normal thing to experience. Sometimes all they need is someone in their corner telling them that this is normal, to believe in themselves, and that someone else has confidence in them." 
What kind of legacy do you hope to leave &ndash; not only through the competitions you&rsquo;ve officiated, but through the people you&rsquo;ve inspired?
"I just hope that all the younger officials coming in see that they can do this. That this, as well as whatever else they want to strive for, is achievable regardless of whether they are coming from a country with a strong tradition of international officiating or not. And that the journey of being an international official can start at any age."
Ash Wehrly for the World Athletics Media Academy
 Launched in March, the World Athletics pledge initiative forms part of the organisation&rsquo;s contribution to the International Women&rsquo;s Day 2026 global campaign, #GiveToGain, which calls on individuals and organisations to give their time, resources and support to help forge gender equality through abundant giving. By encouraging stakeholders to pledge mentoring hours, World Athletics is turning the #GiveToGain message into practical action across the sport. Learn more on the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/women-in-athletics/news/international-womens-day-2026-mentoring-pledge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women in Athletics website</a>.

Zuzana Costin is a former athlete turned official, currently the only active female technical official in the world to hold both World Athletics Gold Level Referee and Gold Level Race Walking Judge qualifications.

Sports writer and Olympic historian Miller dies

Benoit Samuelson’s Chicago showdown

Nominees announced for new fan-powered Moment of the Year

Amebaw and Ntakarutimana confirm supremacy in Amorebieta

Diriba breaks course record, Berhanu threatens mark at Amsterdam Marathon