Kenyan athletes enjoyed an outstanding 2026 campaign at the Abbott World Marathon Majors, collecting seven victories across the prestigious seven-race series.The country produced impressive performances in both the men's and women's categories, with Brigid Kosgei, John Korir, Sharon Lokedi, Sabastian Sawe, Peres Jepchirchir, Amos Kipruto and Sheila Chepkirui emerging as the seven Kenyan winners.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsKenya's victories were spread across six cities, with the Boston Marathon providing a double triumph after Korir and Lokedi won the men's and women's races, respectively.The campaign also featured several podium finishes from other Kenyan athletes, including Hellen Obiri, Benson Kipruto, Loice Chemnung and Mary Ngugi-Cooper.At the Tokyo Marathon, former world marathon record holder Kosgei opened Kenya's winning account with an impressive victory in the women's race. Kosgei clocked 2:14:29 to set a new course record, finishing ahead of Ethiopia's Bertukan Welde, who recorded 2:16:36, while compatriot Hawi Feysa completed the podium in 2:17:39.World Athletics release qualification times for Los Angeles OlympicsKenya also featured prominently in the men's competition, with Geoffrey Toroitich finishing second in 2:03:37, the same time as Ethiopian winner Tadese Takele. Alexander Mutiso Munyao secured third place in 2:03:38, giving Kenya two podium finishes in the men's race.The Boston Marathon, held in April, delivered Kenya's second and third victories of the series through Korir and Lokedi.Korir successfully defended his men's title, clocking 2:01:52 to establish a new course record. Tanzania's Alphonce Felix Simbu finished second in 2:02:47, while fellow Kenyan Kipruto completed the podium in 2:02:50.##NAJAVA_MECA_10108054##Lokedi also successfully defended her women's title after clocking 2:18:51. She led a Kenyan clean sweep of the podium, with Chemnung finishing second in 2:19:35 and Ngugi-Cooper taking third place in 2:20:07.The London Marathon the same month produced one of the biggest moments in the history of distance running, with Sawe becoming the first man to complete an officially recognised marathon race in under two hours.Sawe stormed to victory in 1:59:30, breaking the previous world record and making history on the streets of the British capital. Ethiopia's Yomif Kejelcha also dipped under the two-hour barrier, finishing second in 1:59:41, while Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo came third in 2:00:28.Kenya also had a strong showing in the women's race, although Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa claimed victory in 2:15:41 to establish a women's-only world record. Obiri finished second in 2:15:53, while Joyciline Jepkosgei secured third place in 2:15:55, giving Kenya two podium finishes.Sabastian Sawe makes final list in prestigious World Athletics awardThe series resumed in Australia with the Sydney Marathon in August, where Olympic marathon champion Jepchirchir claimed another major victory.Jepchirchir clocked 2:18:31 to win the women's race, finishing more than three minutes ahead of compatriot Irine Cheptai, who came second in 2:22:11. Ethiopia's Shure Demise completed the podium in 2:22:33.Kenya's presence in the men's race was less prominent, with Vincent Ngetich finishing seventh in 2:05:28. Ethiopia's Addisu Gobena won the race in a course-record 2:04:42, ahead of compatriot Chimdessa Debele, who clocked 2:04:46, while Lesotho's Tebello Ramakongoana finished third in 2:04:57.The Berlin Marathon in September was the only event in which Kenya failed to register a podium finish in either the men's or women's elite races.##NAJAVA_MECA_10108060##Ethiopia dominated the competition, with Guye Adola winning the men's race in 2:02:50 ahead of compatriot Dida Deriba, who clocked 2:03:19. Tanzania's Gabriel Geay completed the podium in 2:03:59.In the women's competition, Assefa secured another victory after clocking 2:11:04. Her compatriots Bedatu Hirpa and Dera Dida finished second and third in 2:16:53 and 2:16:55 respectively.The Bank of America Chicago Marathon last month provided Kenya with another victory through Amos Kipruto, who delivered a personal-best performance of 2:01:09 to claim the men's title.Kipruto finished ahead of Ethiopia's Tadese Bikila, who clocked 2:02:56, while Milkesa Mengesha completed the podium in 2:03:46.The women's race, however, was dominated by Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa, who successfully defended her title in 2:13:33. Lokedi finished second in 2:14:07, while former world marathon record holder Kosgei secured third place in 2:14:55. Ngugi-Cooper also delivered a strong performance, finishing fourth in 2:17:23, while Joan Kilimo came fifth in 2:18:39.Six major returnees set to spice up women's athletics in 2027The New York City Marathon, held on Sunday, 1 November, brought the 2026 series to a close, with Chepkirui securing Kenya's seventh victory.Chepkirui won the women's race in 2:24:36 after pulling away from defending champion Obiri in the closing stages. American Jessica McClain finished second in 2:24:42, just six seconds behind the Kenyan, while Obiri completed the podium in 2:24:43.Kenya also had two more athletes in the women's top five, with former world marathon champion Edna Kiplagat finishing fourth in 2:25:42 and Mercy Chelangat taking fifth place in 2:25:46.The men's race went to Sweden's Andreas Almgren, who won on his marathon debut in 2:06:01. Italy's Yemaneberhan Crippa finished second in 2:06:14, while Lesotho's Kamohelo Mofolo secured third place in 2:06:26. Kenya's Kipruto narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in 2:06:27.Irene Cheptai makes Fair Play Awards final three