Ljubljana Marathon: Kenyan Enock Onchari breaks course record in 2:04:55
Two course records in one day: on Sunday, October 18, 2026, the 30th edition of the Ljubljana Marathon in Slovenia was dominated from start to finish by East African runners, who erased the event's two previous best marks.
In the men's race, Kenyan Enock Onchari won in 2:04:55, three seconds faster than the course record set in 2018. His compatriot Hillary Kipkoech took second place in 2:05:08, ahead of Eritrean Ruesom Oqbe Kibrom, who finished third in 2:05:46. A fourth runner, Kenyan Reuben Kiptoo Rono, completed the distance in 2:07:02.
The women's race was even tighter. Ethiopian Haftamnesh Tesfay Haylu won in 2:19:17, improving by one minute the event record held since 2024 by Kenyan Joyce Tele Chepkemoi (2:20:17). Only seven seconds separated her from Kenyan Esther Chemtai Kipkech, who finished second in 2:19:24. Ethiopian Tigist Gezahagn Menigstu completed the podium in 2:20:04.
According to the Slovenian press cited by Marathons.fr, 22,509 runners took part in the Saturday and Sunday events, with total participation across all categories approaching 30,000 people, including the marathon, half-marathon, 10 km, and youth races.
On the same Sunday, Toronto speaks Kenyan
More than 6,000 kilometers away, the Toronto Marathon told the same story. Leonard Langat, already a winner in 2025, defended his title in 2:06:51, ahead of Fanny Kiprotich (2:07:21), Noah Kipkemboi (2:07:25), Asbel Rutto (2:07:32), and Elvis Cheboi (2:07:37). Five runners within 46 seconds, and a Kenyan sweep of the entire top five.
In the women's race, Kenyan Leah Jeruto won in 2:21:19, ahead of Ethiopians Nigsti Haftu (2:21:34) and Ayinadis Teshome (2:22:51).
A depth that is no coincidence
These results are no longer isolated feats. They reflect the depth of an East African talent pool, nurtured by high-altitude camps in the Kenyan Rift Valley and the Ethiopian highlands, where hundreds of runners train at a level that would win any marathon on the planet. In Ljubljana as in Toronto, the battle was fought between Africans; the rest of the field was running a different race.
The next major milestone for these athletes: the big events of the autumn and spring, where the course records set on October 18 will serve as the new benchmark.
This article was written in French with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited below, then translated from French automatically. Read the original.
