Alisa Vainio sets Finnish record with Seville marathon win

Monday 16 February 2026 - 12:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Alisa Vainio sets Finnish record with Seville marathon win

Finland’s Alisa Vainio delivered a commanding performance at the Zurich Seville Marathon on Sunday, clocking 2:20:39 to break her own national record and become the first European woman to win the race in more than a decade.

The 28 year old ran a measured race as Ethiopia’s Mulat Tekle Godu set a blistering early pace. When Tekle Godu faded in the closing kilometers, Vainio surged ahead, pulling clear of the chasing pack to secure a decisive victory. Kenya’s Beatrice Cheserek finished second in 2:21:56, while Tekle Godu held on for third in 2:22:03.

Vainio’s triumph caps a remarkable 12 month progression. The Lappeenranta native entered the season with a personal best of 2:25:36 but has since shaved nearly five minutes off that mark. She set a Finnish record of 2:23:06 at the national championships in October after placing fifth at the World Championships in Tokyo, then lowered it to 2:20:48 at the Valencia Marathon in December, also breaking a Nordic record that had stood since 1985.

Her latest performance trimmed a further nine seconds from that time and marked the first European victory in Seville since Portugal’s Filomena Costa won in 2015.

The men’s race produced one of the most dramatic finishes in the event’s 41 year history. Ethiopia’s Shura Kitata and compatriot Asrar Abderehman sprinted side by side to the line, both recording 2:03:59, the second fastest time ever run in Seville. Abderehman, the 2022 champion, appeared to have timed his move perfectly with 500 meters remaining, but Kitata found a final burst in the closing strides. Abderehman briefly raised his arms in celebration before officials confirmed Kitata as the winner after reviewing the photo finish.

The 2026 edition drew a record 17,000 participants, including 200 elite athletes competing on what is widely regarded as one of Europe’s flattest marathon courses. The race also served as the global launch event for the SUPERBLAST 3 running shoe, attracting runners from Southeast Asia seeking fast times on the Seville circuit.

Malaysian runners Haziq Hamzah and Michelle Chua both set personal bests, finishing in 2:26:56 and 2:55:00 respectively. Spain’s Ilias Fifa was the top Spanish finisher, placing 13th overall.