Competitive races expected at Seoul Marathon

High-quality fields have been assembled for the Seoul Marathon with several athletes capable of challenging the men's course record in the World Athletics Platinum Label road race on Sunday (15).

Five athletes in the men’s field have personal bests faster than the course record (2:04:43), four of whom represent Ethiopia. Athletes from Ethiopia have won the past four editions, so this year’s contingent will be keen to continue that dominance.

Haftu Teklu returns after winning last year’s race in 2:05:42. The Ethiopian’s personal best is exactly one minute faster, 2:04:42, set when finishing third at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. Seoul also holds special significance for Teklu as the site of his marathon debut in 2023, when he finished third in 2:05:53. In his most recent outing he clocked 1:02:25 at last month’s Burj2Burj Half Marathon in Dubai.

Sisay Lemma, the fourth fastest marathon runner in history thanks to his 2:01:48 victory in Valencia in 2023, is the fastest athlete in the field. The Ethiopian has also claimed victories at the 2021 London Marathon and the 2024 Boston Marathon, the latter remaining his most recent win over the distance. After finishing 10th in Valencia later in 2024 and recording a DNF in Boston followed by 25th place in Valencia in 2:08:58 in 2025, Lemma will be eager to return to the podium in Seoul.

Getaneh Molla, another Ethiopian contender, boasts a personal best of 2:03:34 from his marathon debut in Dubai in 2019, a race he won. Since then he has recorded victories in Ljubljana in 2024 and Lanzhou in 2025, while his career highlights also include third place in Sydney in 2023 and third in Amsterdam in 2:04:19.

Tsegaye Getachew arrives in Seoul in strong form. The Ethiopian, a two-time Amsterdam Marathon champion in 2022 and 2024, finished third at the Tokyo Marathon in 2023 and set a personal best of 2:04:18 when finishing third in Amsterdam in October 2025.

Kenya also fields a strong contingent, led by a newcomer to the sport who recently won a different marathon in the Korean capital.

Nick Kitundu made an immediate impact on his marathon debut when winning the JTBC Seoul Marathon in November in 2:05:32. Enock Kinyamal, winner of the Eindhoven Marathon in 2024, and experienced campaigner Sammy Kitwara, who owns a 2:04:28 best from Chicago in 2014, are also part of the Kenyan contingent. Chinese Olympian and Asian Games champion He Jie is another notable entrant.

A new champion will be crowned in the women’s race, where three Ethiopian athletes with sub-2:20 PBs take on a Kenyan contender who has yet to lose at the marathon distance.

Tiruye Mesfin heads the entries with a personal best of 2:18:35, set when finishing third in Valencia in 2024. The Ethiopian most recently placed third in Shanghai in November in 2:20:38 and will be aiming to secure the first marathon victory of her career.

Bosena Mulatie has a personal best of 2:19:00 from her third-place finish at the 2024 Berlin Marathon. Although she did not finish in Seoul last year, she later placed sixth in Amsterdam in 2:21:23.

Haven Hailu Desse brings a personal best of 2:19:17, set when finishing fourth at last year’s London Marathon. The Ethiopian has already enjoyed success over the distance, including victories at the Osaka Women’s Marathon in 2023 and the Rotterdam Marathon in 2022, and she was runner-up in Amsterdam in 2024.

Joyce Chepkemoi Tele leads the Kenyan challenge. She won the Ljubljana Marathon on her debut in 2024 in 2:20:17, a time that remains her personal best, and followed that victory with further wins in Mumbai and Guangzhou, meaning she has won each of her three marathons to date.

Other Ethiopian entrants include Bekelech Gudeta and Zinash Senbeta.

Leading entrants

Women
Tiruye Mesfin (ETH) 2:18:35
Bosena Mulatie (ETH) 2:19:00
Haven Hailu Desse (ETH) 2:19:17
Joyce Chepkemoi Tele (KEN) 2:20:17
Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:20:59
Zinah Senbeta (ETH) 2:21:05
Anchialem Haymanot (ETH) 2:22:23
Betelihem Afenigus (ETH) 2:23:20
Ayinadis Teshome (ETH) 2:23:50
Kebebush Yisma (ETH) 2:24:04
Medina Deme Armino (ETH) 2:25:09
Wu Bing (CHN) 2:26:01
Monica Chebet (KEN) 2:26:30

Men
Sisay Lemma (ETH) 2:01:48
Getaneh Molla (ETH) 2:03:34
Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 2:04:18
Sammy Kitwara (KEN) 2:04:28
Haftu Teklu (ETH) 2:04:42
Nick Kitundu (KEN) 2:05:32
Enock Kinyamal (KEN) 2:06:28
Gilbert Kibet (KEN) 2:06:39
Collins Kipkurui Kipkorir (KEN) 2:06:44
Edmond Kipngetich (KEN) 2:06:47
Haftamu Abadi Gebresilase (ETH) 2:06:52
Daisuke Uekado (JPN) 2:06:54
He Jie (CHN) 2:06:57