Aberash Fayesa triumphed at the 2026 women’s Kosice Peace Marathon
The crisp autumn air of Košice, Slovakia, provided the perfect backdrop for another historic chapter in European distance running on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Celebrating its storied history as Europe’s oldest marathon event, the Košice Peace Marathon (Medzinárodný maratón mieru) welcomed a highly competitive field of elite international athletes to its World Athletics Label road course.
The elite women’s division delivered an absolute clinic in tactical pacing and front-running brilliance. Dictating the tempo from the opening kilometers, a dominant Ethiopian contingent took full control of the flat, spectator-lined loop course. Emerging at the pinnacle of the podium with a masterfully executed performance was Aberash Fayesa, who destroyed the field to secure a magnificent victory in a blistering 2:21:55.
From the sound of the morning starting gun in the historic center of Košice, the intention of the elite women’s field was intensely ambitious. Led by a focused group of male pacemakers, the front pack immediately targeted splits that would put sub-2:23 marks well within reach.
As the race progressed past the halfway mark, Aberash Fayesa decided to take complete control of her own destiny. Recognizing she had extra reserves of energy, the Ethiopian star launched a devastating surge that none of her immediate rivals could match. Fayesa turned the second half of the race into a gripping solo time trial against the clock, navigating the sweeping turns of the city beautifully.
Fayesa maintained her fluid mechanics and powerful stride all the way down the final straightaway, crossing the finish line in 2:21:55. Her exceptional performance not only secured the prestigious crown but also fell just short of rewriting the absolute course record, marking one of the fastest times ever recorded on Slovak soil.
While Fayesa enjoyed an isolated victory march over the final ten kilometers, a fascinating battle for the remaining podium positions unfolded behind her. Fellow Ethiopian Nurit Ahmed put together an incredibly intelligent, measured performance. Refusing to panic when Fayesa made her decisive breakaway, Ahmed maintained a steady rhythm to insulate herself from the rest of the field. Her strategic patience paid off handsomely as she crossed the line comfortably in second place with a stellar time of 2:25:04.
Completing the podium steps was Kenya’s Tecla Kibet. Displaying immense grit over the grueling final stages of the 42.195-kilometer course, Kibet managed to dig deep and stave off a late-race collapse. She stopped the clock just under the coveted two-and-a-half-hour barrier, taking third place overall in 2:29:57 to prevent an absolute Ethiopian clean sweep of the podium.
The supreme depth of the 2026 elite field was fully demonstrated by the accomplished distance runners filling out the remaining top positions. Finshing just outside the podium spots in fourth place was Ethiopia’s Amente Sorome Negash. Negash fought valiantly alongside Kibet through the 30-kilometer mark before falling slightly off the podium pace, ultimately crossing the timing mats in a highly respectable 2:30:40.
Rounding out the official top five was another Kenyan marathon veteran, Caroline Jebet Korir. Korir utilized her deep reservoir of endurance experience to manage her energy beautifully through the latter half of the race, maintaining very consistent splits to stop the clock in 2:32:38.
With the conclusion of the 2026 edition, the Košice Peace Marathon once again proved why it remains a beloved crown jewel on the global running calendar. The combination of pristine autumn weather, enthusiastic Slovakian crowds, and a meticulously organized flat course continues to attract the highest tier of marathon talent. Fayesa’s dominant display adds another legendary name to the historic winner’s trophy, ensuring that Europe’s oldest marathon continues to push the boundaries of athletic excellence.
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