Ethiopian dominance on the Bosphorus: Kasanesh Baze claims hard-fought Istanbul Marathon victory

The 48th edition of the Istanbul Marathon took place on Sunday, November 1, 2026, delivering a masterclass in tactical distance running. Celebrated globally as the only marathon course traversing two continents, the World Athletics Elite Label road race saw spectacular autumnal conditions that pushed the elite pack to its absolute limits. In the women’s division, Kasanesh Baze crossed the finish line as the undisputed champion, clocking an official time of 2:24:41 to secure one of the most significant victories of her professional marathon career.

From the opening gun on the Asian side of the city, the women’s elite field made their strategic intentions clear. A strong contingent of athletes immediately pushed the pace, hitting the initial 15-kilometer split at a swift 50:30 clip, which early on projected a sub-2:23 finishing time. The relentless pace over the undulating bridges and past historical Turkish landmarks tested the rhythm of even the most experienced distance specialists.

The defending champion, Everlyn Jemutai Kemboi, along with Eritrea’s Dolshi Tesfu, established themselves in the frontline pack alongside the eventual podium finishers. Paced carefully through the midpoint of the course, a robust group of nine runners crossed the half-marathon split in a highly competitive 1:11:14.

The definitive shift in momentum came just after the 30-kilometer checkpoint. As the course wound tighter through historical districts toward the European shoreline finish, the front group began to fracture under the continuous pressure. Key contenders, including former World Championship medalist Judith Jeptum Korir and defending champion Everlyn Jemutai Kemboi, fell back from the absolute limits of the lead pace, which clocked 1:41:57 at the 30K barrier.

With six runners left in contention, Kasanesh Baze chose the final tough uphill stretches of the Istanbul course to launch her decisive attack. Showcasing exceptional strength, Baze pulled away smoothly over the final 20 minutes of the race. She clicked through the 40K mark at 2:16:55, holding an unshakeable advantage over the remaining chasers.

Though Baze comfortably claimed the top spot in 2:24:41, a spectacular duel played out immediately behind her for the remaining podium positions. Azmera Abreha put on a tremendous closing surge to claim second place in 2:24:48, stopping the clock a mere seven seconds behind Baze. Ethiopia’s 19-year-old rising talent, Diribe Hirko, completed her podium performance just a few ticks later in 2:25:01, marking a sensational evolution in her international elite pedigree.

Further back, the depths of the elite class showed solid form. Alemtsehay Asefa (2:26:54) and Meaza Asefa (2:27:30) ran tough individual segments over the closing miles to close out the top five slots. Judith Jeptum Korir rallied across the final bridge section to secure sixth in 2:28:42, fending off Dolshi Tesfu who claimed seventh place right at the 2:30:07 mark.

Rounding out the elite top ten under the crisp November skies, Derartu Hailu took eighth place (2:31:22), followed closely by Everlyn Jemutai Kemboi (2:31:34), who fought valiantly through a difficult second half to stay inside the top ten. Bizuager Aderra completed the primary elite leaderboards, stopping the timers at 2:34:43 to finalize a memorable weekend of top-tier athletics in Istanbul.

Final Standings women’s Istanbul marathon
1. Kasanesh Baze (Ethiopia) – 2:24:41 hours
2. Azmera Abreha (Ethiopia) – 2:24:48 hours
3. Diribe Hirko (Ethiopia) – 2:25:01 hours
4. Alemtsehay Asefa (Ethiopia) – 2:26:54 hours
5. Meaza Asefa (Ethiopia) – 2:27:30 hours
6. Judith Jeptum Korir (Kenya) – 2:28:42 hours
7. Dolshi Tesfu (Eritrea) – 2:30:07 hours
8. Derartu Hailu (Ethiopia) – 2:31:22 hours
9. Everlyn Jemutai Kemboi (Kenya) – 2:31:34 hours
10. Bizuager Aderra (Ethiopia) – 2:34:43 hours