Kenyan Athlete Sheila Chepkirui will be the centre of focus on Sunday as she leads a world-class field at the Nagoya Women’s Marathon.
Held on International Women’s Day, the event stands as the largest women-only marathon in the world, and Chepkirui returns to the Japanese streets as the defending champion. After her victory last year, the Kenyan star is seeking a rare back-to-back title in a race that has become a symbol of women’s empowerment in sports.
Chepkirui aims to shatter the 2:20 barrier and cement her legacy among the greatest marathoners of the modern era. During the pre-race briefing, she expressed her desire to honor the spirit of the day by pushing the limits of what is possible on the course.
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The 2024 New York City Marathon winner,Chepkirui enters the race with the experience required to navigate a field that includes ten women who have run under 2 hours and 22 minutes.
Chepkirui enters the race in elite form, having won the 2024 New York City Marathon and finishing third there again this past November in 2025.
At the pre-race press conference, she expressed her ambition to not only defend her title but to break the 2:20 barrier: “My goal on Sunday will be to try and defend my title. If we have good weather, I will push myself to run 2:20 or under.”
Ethiopia’s Aynalem Desta, who boasts a personal best of 2:17:37, is expected to provide the stiffest competition, while local favorite and Asian record-holder Honami Maeda will carry the hopes of the home nation.
The race also serves as the selection event for the 2026 Asian Games and an early qualification path for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest women-only marathon, the event will see approximately 20,000 participants take to the streets.
Chepkirui is expected to compete against Maeda,Desta among others in the elite field that includes international stars such as Bahrain’s Eunice Chumba and Kenya’s Selly Chepyego Kaptich, alongside Spanish record-holder Majida Maayouf and Australian Olympian Genevieve Gregson.
