Nubia de Oliveira Silva won the women’s Garoto 10 Miles – 35ª Dez Milhas Garoto

Nubia de Oliveira Silva captured a historic back-to-back victory at the prestigious Garoto 10 Miles – 35ª Dez Milhas Garoto on September 27, 2026. Blazing across the iconic Terceira Ponte from Vitória to Vila Velha, Brazil, the 24-year-old Brazilian phenom stopped the clock in 59:39 minutes, defending her crown in a thrilling sprint finish to outlast a world-class international field.

The article below highlights the tactical masterclass, podium finish times, and vibrant celebration of an milestone edition.

The morning of September 27, 2026, brought a majestic mix of high-stakes sports drama and immense festive energy to the coast of Espírito Santo. Celebrating its 35th anniversary edition, the Dez Milhas Garoto reached historic heights. The race shattered entry milestones, selling out all 20,000 bibs in a staggering 14 hours. Crucially, it marked its official integration as a World Athletics Label Road Race and boasted a majority-female peloton for the first time in history, with women accounting for 51% of the field.

Starting under a clear sun at the Praia de Camburi in Vitória, thousands of competitors journeyed across the scenic, taxing 16.09-kilometer course toward the finishing straight at the legendary Chocolates Garoto factory in Vila Velha. While the crowds provided endless encouragement, the elite women’s division stole the show, executing a furiously quick pace that culminated in a tactical dogfight over the final meters.

The narrative of the day belonged firmly to Bahia-native Núbia de Oliveira Silva. Standing as the reigning champion after breaking an 18-year home drought in 2025, all eyes were fixed on the Brazilian star to see if she could withstand the pressure of top-tier African distance specialists. Running with remarkable patience, she completed the course in 59:39, proving that her local course knowledge and tactical instincts are second to none.

From the starter’s gun, an elite lead pack consisting of Brazilian and Ethiopian runners broke clear, setting an honest tempo despite the early morning heat. Silva deliberately tucked behind the frontrunners, choosing to let her rivals control the wind. The critical portion of the race came as the field hit the sweeping ascents of the Terceira Ponte. Buoyed by the thunderous chants of local fans shouting her name, Silva remained steady, preserving her energy for the flat, high-speed final stages.

As the race passed the 15-kilometer mark, the Ethiopian contingent launched a series of aggressive surges. Refusing to break, Silva matched them step-for-step. When the finish line came into view with only 300 meters remaining, she unleashed an explosive final kick, edging ahead in a dramatic dash to capture her consecutive title and claim the R$ 30,000 winner’s purse.

Finishing an incredibly close second place was Ethiopia’s Kiya Fiseha, who crossed the line a mere two seconds behind the champion in 59:41. Fiseha did immense tactical heavy lifting throughout the mid-race miles, pushing the pace across the bridge and continuously trying to break Silva’s rhythm. Her relentless, high-turnover mechanics forced a world-class standard out of the entire field, helping to secure her place on the global podium.

Right on her heels was fellow Ethiopian Ayinalem Ketema, who secured third place in an equally exceptional 59:44. Ketema paced herself beautifully, operating seamlessly within the leading trio and ensuring a rapid pace from start to finish. The close proximity of the top three women—all dipping well under the elusive 60-minute barrier—solidified the 2026 edition as one of the fastest elite iterations in the race’s long-standing history.

Behind the podium battles, the depth of Brazilian road racing was heavily verified. Jessica Ladeira Soares put together an admirable, gritty performance to take fourth place overall with an official time of 59:57. Soares kept the lead trio within striking distance for the majority of the race, running with smart positional awareness to comfortably crack the sub-hour barrier herself.

Completing the official top five elite standings was veteran competitor Carmem Silva, who registered a strong time of 1:01:14. Silva ran a highly disciplined, independent race for most of the final miles, successfully managing her effort across the late-stage hills to fend off trailing chasers. With three Brazilian flags occupying slots inside the top five, the hometown crowd had plenty of reasons to celebrate alongside the champion.

The 35th Garoto 10 Miles reinforced its status as the absolute gold standard of Brazilian road running. From community-driven hydration stations to festive neighborhood block parties flanking the course, the region completely embraced the race. For two-time champion Núbia de Oliveira Silva, the victory cements her legacy as a modern icon of the event, building massive momentum as she focuses on the upcoming San Silvestre road race later this winter