Chepkirui retains Nagoya Marathon title after sprint duel to finish line

Former New York Marathon champion Sheila Chepkirui successfully defended her title at the Nagoya Women's Marathon on Sunday, March 8, 2026, edging Japan’s Sayaka Sato in a dramatic sprint finish to win in 2:21:54.

Sato finished just two seconds behind in 2:21:56, while Ethiopia’s Aynalem Desta completed the podium in third place with 2:22:37 after a tightly contested race through the streets of Nagoya.

An early lead group featuring Chepkirui, Sato, Desta and Japan’s Rika Kaseda passed the halfway mark in 1:10:51, setting the stage for a fast and tactical second half.

After the pacemakers stepped aside around the 25km mark, the pace gradually reduced the lead pack until only four contenders remained.

The decisive moment came at 39km when Chepkirui surged to the front. Only Sato managed to respond, setting up a tense head-to-head duel over the closing kilometres.

The pair remained shoulder-to-shoulder approaching the finish before Chepkirui produced a stronger final sprint to seal her second consecutive Nagoya title.

“I’m very happy to defend my title,” said Chepkirui after the race. “The wind was really strong, so I needed to keep a strong mind all the way to the finish line.”

Sato, who pushed the Kenyan all the way, added: “It’s tough to lose the sprint at the end, but I believe I ran a good race today.”

1. Sheila Chepkirui (Kenya) – 2:21:54

2. Sayaka Sato (Japan) – 2:21:56

3. Aynalem Desta (Ethiopia) – 2:22:37