The inaugural Cali Marathon marked a milestone in Colombia, not only for bringing together more than 11,000 athletes from 39 countries as the first and only marathon in South America with the Elite Label from World Athletics, but also because it became the marathon with the best records ever set on national soil in history.
In the men’s category, the race began with a prominent African group that included Gabriel Geay, from Tanzania, winner of the 2025 Daegu Marathon and holder of a personal best of 2:03:03; Bonface Kiplimo, from Kenya, top 10 in the Berlin Marathon; Eric Kiptanui, from Kenya, who finished on the podium at the Chicago Marathon; Mogos Solomon, from Eritrea, who placed on the podium at the Beijing Marathon; Daniel Paulus, from Kenya, national record holder in the 21K and 42K; Peter Qambaway, from Tanzania, who was debuting at the distance; Evans Mayaka, from Kenya, with a personal best of 2 hours and 10 minutes; and Richard Rop, from Kenya.
During the first kilometers, the top Latin American chasing the African runners was Colombian Mauricio González, from Equipo Porvenir. Later, a chasing group emerged that included Joaquín Arbe, from Argentina; Jorge Castelblanco, from Panama, national marathon record holders in their countries; and Colombian David Gómez, currently the best 42K runner in Colombia. As the minutes passed and at the 25-kilometer mark, the African group had narrowed down to Rop, Kiplimo, Mayaka, Kiptanui, and Paulus.
The African continent took the top four spots, while Panamanian Castelblanco finished fifth as the top Latin American, with a time of 2:17:47.
The top Colombian in the inaugural Cali Marathon was Antioquian David Gómez. In the women’s category, the leading African group from the start included Helalia Johannes, from Namibia, a marathon medalist in world championships; Emmah Ndiwa, from Kenya; Adanech Mekonnen, from Ethiopia; and Nigist Desta, from Ethiopia.
Behind them were Kellys Arias, Alexandra Aldana, Leneida Mateus, along with Ecuadorian Rosa Chacha.
In the end, Kenyan Ndiwa secured victory with a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 26 seconds, accompanied on the podium by Ethiopians Nigist and Mekonnen, with times of 2:32:24 and 2:36:18, respectively. The top Colombian was Boyacense Alexandra Aldana, who placed fifth in the race, setting the best mark ever by a local on Colombian soil with a time of 2:40:41.
Men’s Category 1
Evans Nyakamba Mayaka – 02:11:04 from Kenya
2. Bonface Kimutai Kiplimo – 02:11:27 from Kenya
3. Daniel Paulus – 02:15:19 from Namibia
4. Mogos Shumay Solomon – 02:17:25 from Eritrea
5. Jorge Enrique Castelblanco – 02:17:47 from Panama
6. Peter Qambaway – 02:18:04 from Tanzania
7. David Gómez – 02:19:59 from Colombia
8. Santiago Zerda – 02:21:33 from Colombia
Women’s Category 1
Emmah Ndiwa – 02:29:26 from Kenya.
2. Nigist Muluneh – 02:32:24 from Ethiopia.
3. Adanech Mekonnen – 02:36:18 from Ethiopia.
4. Helalia Johannes – 02:37:29 from Namibia.
5. Alexandra Carolina Aldana Ordoñez – 02:40:41 from Colombia.
6. Mildrey Johana Echavarría Espinosa – 02:41:07 from Colombia.
7. Rosa Alva Chacha Chacha – 02:41:29 from Ecuador.
8. Kellys Yesenia Arias Figueroa – 02:42:24 from Colombia.
Men’s 15K Category
1. Carlos Sanmartín – Equipo Porvenir – 00:45:15.
2. Iván González – Equipo Porvenir – 00:45:55.
3. Wilmer Chávez – Putumayo – 00:46:31.
4. Javier Peñalosa – Santander – 00:46:40.
5. Diego Fernando Orozco León – Bogotá – 00:46:45.
Women’s 15K Category
1. Carolina Tabares – Team Ocampo – 00:52:34.
2. Yesica Alejandra Sánchez Bolaños – Valle – 00:53:13.
3. Lina Pantoja – Nariño – 00:53:20.
4. Muriel Coneo – Antioquia – 00:54:00.
5. María Fernanda Montoya – Equipo Porvenir – 00:54:16.
Image: Pais
