Defending champions hope to retain marathon titles in Lisbon

In the flagship event, the EDP Lisbon Marathon – starting at 8:00 AM on Saturday in Carcavelos – Kenya’s Zablon Chumba and Ethiopia’s Abebech Afework return to defend last year’s titles, facing fierce competition in their bid for back-to-back victories.

In the men’s race, Chumba (PB 2:07:11) is one of seven athletes boasting personal bests under 2:08. The standout contenders include fellow Kenyans Jonathan Kiplimo Maiyo (PB 2:04:56) and Timothy Misoi (PB 2:06:07, clocked earlier this year in Hamburg), alongside Ethiopian challengers Abdi Ali Gelchu (PB 2:07:15) and Asefa Mengisa (PB 2:07:47). The course record stands at 2:05:45, set by Andualem Belay Shiferaw in 2022.

In the women’s division, following her 2:29:00 victory last year, Abebech Afework arrives in the Portuguese capital riding high on a strong 2:23:52 performance in Dubai earlier this season. She faces a stacked field that could challenge the course record of 2:24:13, set on the previous course layout by Sarah Chepchirchir. Ruth Chebitok (PB 2:21:03 in Vienna) headlines the entries on paper, with Sintayehu Tilahun close behind courtesy of her 2:22:19 personal best in Milan (2022). Tilahun took 3rd in Milan again this year (2:25:29) and heads to Lisbon in top form. Ethiopia’s Worknesh Alemu (PB 2:24:42) adds further depth, bringing the tally of sub-2:25 women to four.
The Hyundai Half Marathon – scheduled for Sunday at 9:20 AM, starting on the Vasco da Gama Bridge – also showcases deep, competitive fields in both divisions.

Leading the men’s entries is Ethiopia’s Fantahun Hunegnaw, who holds a 1:00:10 half marathon personal best alongside a 2:06:04 marathon mark. Uganda’s Abel Chebet (PB 1:00:31) poses a major threat, as does Kenya’s Brian Kibet Kogo, who returns to Lisbon after a 1:01:23 debut over the distance in March. Eritrea’s Merhawi Mebrahtu is also back in Lisbon following his 1:01:11 personal best in the spring.

In the women’s race, with Peres Jepchirchir’s long-standing course record of 1:06:54 (set in 2019) firmly in the crosshairs, Kenya’s Dolphine Omare (PB 1:06:05) leads the contenders. The lineup is further bolstered by Ethiopia’s emerging talent Debash Desta (PB 1:08:10) and Kenya’s Margret Chacha (PB 1:08:57).

On the domestic front, the Portuguese elite squad features Miguel Borges (1:01:54, Barcelona 2025) and Filipe Vitorino (1:04:36, Barcelona 2021) in the men’s field, alongside Solange Jesus (1:12:03, Rome 2024) and Salomé Rocha (1:11:42, Rome 2024) leading the women’s contingent.