Jonathan Maiyo will spearhead Kenya’s assault at the São Paulo Marathon this Sunday, as the experienced campaigner eyes a strong start to his 2026 road season.
The 2015 African Championships 5,000m silver medallist heads into the race determined to bounce back from a quiet 2025 campaign, where he made just one appearance at the Cologne Marathon.
There, Maiyo finished sixth in 2:22:19 as fellow Kenyans dominated the podium through Barnaba Kipkoech, Boniface Kibiwott and Onesmus Kiplimo.
Despite that subdued outing, Maiyo remains one of Kenya’s seasoned marathoners, boasting a runner-up finish at the Eindhoven Marathon in 2:06:47 and a third-place result at the Gongju Marathon in 2013.
He will be joined in Brazil by Ezekiel Omullo, who also begins his 2026 campaign after an impressive podium finish at the Nairobi Marathon last October, where he placed third in 2:11:40 behind Benard Chepkwony and Alex Saekwo.
Omullo carries strong credentials into the race, including runner-up finishes at the Gold Coast Marathon in 2023 and the Warsaw Marathon in 2019, underlining his status as a serious contender.
Also in the Kenyan contingent is William Kibor, who returns to familiar ground after finishing third at last year’s São Paulo Marathon in 2:18:04.
He will be aiming to improve on that result after Tanzania’s Charles Sulle and Kenya’s Vestus Chemjor claimed the top two spots.
In the women’s race, Kenya will look to Vivian Kiplagat and Edna Kimitei to challenge Uganda’s Nancy Cheptegei in what promises to be a tightly contested showdown.
Meanwhile, focus also shifts to the Enschede Marathon, where Gevin Kerich returns to action after a lengthy absence.
The Kenyan last competed in October 2023, finishing fifth in 2:11:04. He will line up alongside Bygeon Kiprono, who is seeking redemption after placing seventh at the Milan Marathon in his final outing of 2025.
In the women’s race in Enschede, Dorine Murkomen will aim to build on her strong 2025 season, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Malaga Marathon.
She will be joined by Hilda Cheboi, who heads into the race on the back of a podium finish at the Linz Marathon.
With seasoned names and emerging contenders spread across two major international races, Kenya’s distance running depth will once again be under the spotlight this weekend.
