Record-breaking Termal Bologna Marathon

Record-breaking Termal Bologna Marathon: Kenyans Ishmael Chelanga Kalale and Sheila Chepkech win with race records

The 42 km celebrates the new race records set by Kenyans Ishmael Chelanga Kalale and Sheila Chepkech

In the 30 km of the Portici, Nicolò Petrin and Giorgia Venturi take the lead

Riccardo Mugnosso and Andreea Lucaci reach the podium of the Run Tune Up 21k

Also competing in the 21k is the Sports Councillor Roberta Li Calzi. The Mayor Lepore:

"Termal Bologna Marathon is one of the events that, together with the Davis Cup, attracts the most sports enthusiasts".

BOLOGNA – Bologna runs strong and signs a record edition for 2026, both in terms of participants and the winners' times who set race records in the marathon distance.

The Emilian capital witnessed the passage of a flood of 12,000 participants, 9,000 of whom were in the competitive races, with a unique and spectacular start from Via Irnerio at 9:00 AM. At the starting line to celebrate and kick off a memorable day were the Mayor of Bologna Matteo Lepore and the Sports and Budget Councillor of the Municipality of Bologna Roberta Li Calzi, the latter also ran the half marathon.

At 10:15 AM, also from Via Irnerio, the very popular Bologna City Run 5 Km “Where research runs free” – “Dove la ricerca corre libera”, a non-competitive event, in collaboration with the University of Bologna, where thousands of families, children, and people of all ages participated. Also at the start was Giovanni Molari, Magnificent Rector of the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna.

Marathon Report

At the 24th kilometer, it was Kenyan Peter Murithi Wahome who took control, passing in 1h16'17", with an 11-second lead over Ishmael Chelanga Kalale, Frederick Cheruiyot Bett, and the day's pacer Martin Cheruiyot.

In Piazza Maggiore, victory goes to the pre-race favorite, Kenyan Ishmael Chelanga Kalale, who crosses the finish line in 2h16’30”, a new race record, thus breaking the previous record of his compatriot Martin Cheruiyot of 2h21’56” from the 2025 edition.

The runner-up is Kenyan Peter Murithi Wahome, who finishes in 2h17’35”, also under the previous record. Third place, and the first Italian, is Italo Cassol (ASD La Recastello) who, with 2h22’11”, shows he is a different athlete compared to the past, improving his personal best of 2h41’34”.

Interestingly, Davide Campagna, known as «Cotto al Dente», also completed the Termal Bologna Marathon, running with the Culligan team and finishing the race with a very good 2h54'57".

For the women, it's again Kenya celebrating success with Sheila Chepkech who passes the 24 km mark in first position in 1h24’28”, followed at a distance by Federica Moroni (Atl Rimini Nord Santarcangelo) and Sabrina Bolis, respectively in 1h35’25” and 1h41’17”. The Termal Bologna Marathon also celebrates the women's race record with Kenyan Sheila Chepkech who, with a time of 2h32’42”, shatters the 2h49’46” record from 2024 held by Federica Moroni (Atl Rimini Nord Santarcangelo). Federica Moroni, after the national record in the 50km ultramarathon distance last week, must settle for second place with a time of 2h50’58”. The podium for the queen distance is completed by Elisabetta Luchese (ASD Hrobert Running Team) in 3h02’12”.

30 km Report

After a series of lead changes, it is Nicolò Petrin (Venicemarathon SSD) who snatches victory in the 30 km of the Portici in 1h44’24”. The runner-up is Elia Generali (SSDRL Cinque Cerchi) who finishes in 1h44’41”, closely followed by Jacopo Manservisi (Asd Virtus Sez. Atl. Emilsider) who completes the podium in 1h44’50”.

It is a familiar name that writes her name in the golden book of the 30 km of the Portici, the winner of the last marathon edition Giorgia Venturi (Pod. Ozzanese) who dominates in 1h56’02”. Second is Sarah Aimee L’epee (Asd Atl. Roata Chiusani) in 2h02’28”, with a clear advantage over Ramona Ferrari (ASD 3’30 Team) who completes the podium in 2h07’15”.

21 Km Run Tune Up Report

In the half marathon, Riccardo Mugnosso (ASD Sicilia Running Team) takes the lead and wins in 1h06’49”, narrowly missing the course record. “Race on a beautiful course, a bit nerve-wracking but rewarded by the emotions of running through the city center. It has been a complex week work-wise because I am a Physical Education teacher and was on a trip with my students, but the hard work of training always pays off, I am very happy with how I managed the race and this result,” commented winner Riccardo Mugnosso.

Clear advantage over Luis Matteo Ricciardi (Dinamo Running) who won with a record (1h06'35") last year, this year he finishes in second place in 1h09’19”, having to watch his back from Frenchman Julien Gueydon, third in 1h09’42”.

In the women's category, Andreea Lucaci (Atl. Vinci) narrowly beats Sofia Toniolo (BOLF Team Asd), both finishing in 1h21’44” after a spectacular and thrilling sprint. Clear advantage over Frenchwoman Luna Mathilde Joly, who completes the podium with a time of 1h23’19”.

At the finish line of the 21 Km Run Tune Up was also an emotional, yet very happy, Sports and Budget Councillor of the Municipality of Bologna Roberta Li Calzi (Lolliauto Asd). She finished her race in 1h48'21", her new personal best.

Final Comments

"It was a magical, beautiful edition – said Councillor Li Calzi -, with the routes even better than in the past, really nice to run more in a city where the cheering along the streets has also grown significantly. I see and dream of future editions with even more participants. As for me, I am happy to have improved my personal best in the half marathon from 1h56' to 1h48', doing it in my own city is truly exciting. A thank you also to Silvia Mezzanotte who sang a spine-tingling piece for the first time before the start, she was great".

So said Mayor Matteo Lepore before the start: "A beautiful city full of thousands of people coming from all over the world, some traffic inconveniences but it is really worth it because today the world is talking about Bologna. It is one of the events that, together with the Davis Cup, attracts the most sports enthusiasts and this is a great achievement".

Thus Teresa Lopilato, President of Bologna Marathon: "We experienced a day with a fantastic atmosphere, a pleasure to welcome all 12,000 people in the square, right up to the last classified in both the three competitive races and the Bologna City Run 5 Km. Every year we do our best to improve, to offer the best results, both to welcome the thousands of runners from all over Italy and from 81 nations around the world, and for our beloved city of Bologna. We are in our fifth year, we are happy, but we do not stop here. On the wings of enthusiasm, we want to improve further, grow and make the Termal Bologna Marathon even bigger in the 2027 edition, an event that belongs to all of Bologna".

Giovanni Molari, Magnificent Rector of the Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna: "The proceeds from the City Run 5k will go towards research, of the highest level and in many fields. It is an opportunity to unite the city and the University and the marathon, to show what we do and the stand for three days in Piazza Maggiore has allowed this. A union with the city and with sports also with our students and our staff. We are now a university that competes at a global level with universities around the world".

Bologna Marathon Press Office

Cesare Monetti            Daniela De Stefano

Tel. +39 380 3114270        +39 349 7862552

cesare.monetti@gmail.com   runtoday.it@gmail.com

Matteo Fogacci            Fabio Cavallari

Tel. +39 333 840 0944       Bologna Sport Marathon

matteofogacci@gmail.com

BOLOGNA SPORT MARATHON SSD a r.l.

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