Peter Kwemoi smashed the course record to triumphed at the Venicemarathon 2026

Peter Kwemoi Ndorobo delivered a historic masterclass to claim the men’s marathon title at the landmark 40th anniversary edition of the Wizz Air Venicemarathon. Held on Sunday, October 25, 2026, the prestigious World Athletics elite road race shattered expectations, delivering an unprecedented level of competition that completely rewrote the event’s historical record books.

Defying the highly technical layout, variable terrain, and signature bridges of the historic Venetian landscape, the Kenyan distance star stormed across the finish line in a blistering, course-record time of 2:07:31 hours. Kwemoi’s performance triggered a monumental chain reaction behind him, as Ethiopia’s Berhanu Tarto Yatede secured the runner-up spot in a phenomenal 2:07:47 hours, followed closely by Kenya’s Dickson Simba Nyakundi, who registered an exceptional 2:07:56 hours to complete the podium.

Crucially, this marked the first time in the four-decade history of the event that the top three men all finished under the elite 2:08 barrier. Rounding out the elite top five in this fast-paced thriller were two more outstanding Kenyan marathoners: Collins Kemboi, who claimed fourth place in 2:08:07 hours, and Evans Kipkorir, who completed the stellar leading group in fifth with a time of 2:08:41 hours.

The historic race commenced on Sunday morning in front of the spectacular, grand backdrop of Villa Pisani in Stra. From the opening strides along the scenic Riviera del Brenta, it was evident that the elite men’s field was determined to push the physical boundaries of the course. Backed by ideal autumn racing weather, the pacemakers established an aggressive yet highly calculated tempo early on, splitting the pack into distinct groups well before reaching the mid-way point.

A compact cadre of East African specialists quickly asserted their dominance at the front of the field. Kwemoi, Kemboi, and Kipkorir ran shoulder-to-shoulder, systematically executing their hydration strategies and taking turns leading the pack to shield one another from any headwind. As the race progressed past the mainland hub of Mestre and headed toward the long, exposed Ponte della Libertà—the bridge linking mainland Italy to the historic island of Venice—the tactical chess match truly began.

The final ten kilometers of the Venicemarathon are widely regarded as some of the most grueling in elite road racing. Runners must conquer 14 architectural bridges, navigating short, steep incline ramps and shifting cobblestone surfaces while their muscles are already pushed to the absolute limit. It was precisely within this demanding segment that Kwemoi chose to make his definitive tactical gamble.

Exiting San Giuliano Park, Kwemoi gradually increased the cadence of his stride. The sudden injection of pace proved devastating, immediately detaching Kipkorir and Kemboi from the ultimate podium hunt. Only the resilient Ethiopian, Berhanu Tarto Yatede, possessed the immediate strength to cover Kwemoi’s bold surge.

For several kilometers, the leading duo matched each other stride for stride as they crossed the spectacular, temporary floating bridge spanning the famous Grand Canal. However, as they entered the spectacular home stretch through St. Mark’s Square and onto the Riva Sette Martiri, Kwemoi unlocked an extra gear. Digging deep into his physical reserves, the Kenyan broke away in the final kilometers, pulverizing the previous course record by 10 seconds and setting a new lifetime personal best.

Venicemarathon 2026 final standings
1. Peter Kwemoi (KEN) – 2:07:31 hours (CR / PB)
2. Berhanu Tarto (ETH) – 2:07:47 hours (PB)
3. Dickson Nyakundi (KEN) – 2:07:56 hours (PB)
4. Collins Kemboi (KEN) – 2:08:07 hours
5. Evans Kipkorir (KEN) – 2:08:41 hours

Peter Kwemoi’s historic victory capped off a record-shattering weekend for the Venicemarathon organization. Celebrating 40 years of racing heritage, the 2026 festival attracted an astonishing field of over 24,000 participants representing 124 nations across its three primary distances.

The incredible depth displayed in the men’s race—complemented beautifully by a dramatic elite women’s victory by Kenya’s Jackline Jerono—securely elevates Venice’s status among Europe’s premier, highly competitive autumn marathons. For Kwemoi, his brilliant display of tactical patience, bridge-climbing power, and raw speed along the historic Venetian lagoon will go down as one of the most iconic individual performances in the modern history of Italian road racing.