The Nagoya Women’s Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label race widely recognized as the world’s largest women-only marathon, today announced the invited elite athletes for its 15th edition, scheduled forSSunday, March 8, 2026. A total of 10 athletes with personal bests under 2:22:00 are entered, setting the stage for a world-class, high-speed competition.
Heading the elite field is defending champion Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya, who has a personal best of 2:17:29 from the 2022 Valencia Marathon. She also won the 2024 New York City Marathon. She returns to Nagoya aiming to defend her title. Challenging her will be 22-year-old rising talent Aynalem Desta of Ethiopia, who has a personal best of 2:17:37 from the October 2025 running of the Amsterdam Marathon.
Experienced contenders include Eunice Chebichii Chumba of Bahrain (2:20:02). She has repeatedly battled for top positions in Nagoya, and Selly Chepyego Kaptich of Kenya (2:20:03), adding further competitiveness to the international field.
Further enhancing the race’s global profile, top runners from around the world will join the race. These include Majida Maayouf (Spain), Hayat Benhenia and Soukaina Atanane (Morocco), Genevieve Gregson (Australia), Argentina Valdepenas Cerna (Mexico), and Katherine Camp (New Zealand).
Japan’s domestic field is equally remarkable and unprecedented in depth. Leading the home challenge is Japanese record holder Honami Maeda (2:18:59), who rewrote the national marathon record in 2024 for the first time in 19 years. She will be joined by Sayaka Sato (2:20:59), top Japanese finisher in the 2025 race, 2024 Nagoya champion Yuka Ando (2:21:18), Tokyo Olympian Ayuko Suzuki (2:21:33), and 2023 World Championships representative Rika Kaseda (2:21:55). These accomplished athletes with Olympic and World Championship experience are set to clash as they vie for qualification for the Marathon Grand Championship, Japan’s selection race for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Further adding intrigue to the race, Japanese track standouts known for their speed will make the step up to the marathon. Among them are Paris Olympic 10,000m representative Rino Goshima and marathon debutante Wakana Kabasawa, a Paris Olympic 5,000m representative. In a further sign of the strength of the home lineup, Japan’s middle-distance star Nozomi Tanaka will serve as a pacemaker, helping to push the race toward a historic fast race.
The Nagoya Women’s Marathon not only brings together a world-class field of elite female athletes but also welcomes approximately 20,000 women united by the joy of running, making it the largest women’s marathon in the world. Every finisher who crosses the line will receive a race-exclusive crystal tumbler crafted by the French luxury brand Baccarat, serving as a lasting symbol of her achievement. This year’s design will be unveiled on the Marathon EXPO stage on the day before the race.
Separate press releases will be issued for the invited athletes’ press conference on Friday, March 7, and for the race-day flash report on Sunday, March 9. Media outlets worldwide and running fans alike are invited to follow what promises to be one of the fastest and most exciting women’s marathons on the global calendar.
List of Elite Athletes of the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2026
Special Invited Elite Athletes:
Name Nationality Personal Best
CHEPKIRUI, Sheila Kenya 2:17:29
DESTA, Aynalem Ethiopia 2:17:37
MAEDA, Honami Japan 2:18:59
CHUMBA, Eunice Chebichii Bahrain 2:20:02
KAPTICH, Selly Chepyego Kenya 2:20:03
SATO, Sayaka Japan 2:20:59
MAAYOUF, Majida Spain 2:21:01
ANDO, Yuka Japan 2:21:18
SUZUKI, Ayuko Japan 2:21:33
KASEDA, Rika Japan 2:21:55
GOSHIMA, Rino Japan 30:53.31 (10k)
KABASAWA, Wakana Japan 31:03.14 (10k)
International Invited Elite Athletes:
BENHENIA, Hayat Morocco 2:24:48
ATANANE, Soukaina Morocco 2:24:57
GREGSON, Genevieve Australia 2:23:08
KAMULU, Pauline Kaveke Kenya 2:31:04
VALDEPEÑAS CERNA, Argentina Mexico 2:35:16
CAMP, Katherine New Zealand 1:14:40 (Half Marathon)
For a complete list of competitors in the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2026 Elite Field, please visit:
https://womens-marathon.nagoya/en/news/article.php?id=1WYMJInCfMyOZ9dDZXxlXi
