Deborah Sang broke the Belgrade Marathon record.

Kenya’s Gilbert Kipeleting Chumba and Deborah Sang claimed victory at the 38th Comtrade Belgrade Marathon.

After 24 years, the women’s course record at the Belgrade Marathon has fallen. Kenya’s Deborah Sang clocked 2:26:51, shaving nearly three minutes off the previous record of 2:29:44 set by Romania’s Cristina Pomacu.

It became clear early in the race that the three leading women were running at a record-breaking pace. In the final two kilometers, Deborah Sang and Ethiopia’s Lensa Debele Jaleta pulled ahead. In the closing stretch, Sang had more left in the tank, securing both the win and the new course record, while Jaleta finished second, just four seconds behind. Another Ethiopian, Kumsa Kuli Chimdesa, crossed the line in third place with a time of 2:31:24.

Gilbert Kipleting Chumba made history as the first male athlete to defend his title at the Belgrade Marathon.

The Kenyan ran brilliantly for nearly 41 kilometers, maintaining a pace faster than the course record set by Japhet Kosgei in 2006 (2:10:54). Unfortunately, he lost momentum in the final stretch. He still took the win with a time of 2:11:23, the second-fastest result in the history of the marathon in the Serbian capital.

Second place went to Ethiopia’s Kebede Liyew Shengo, who finished 14 seconds behind the winner, while another Kenyan, Matthew Kiplagat, claimed the third spot on the podium.

The Belgrade Marathon also served as the Serbian national championship over the 42-kilometer distance. Đuro Borbelj from Apatin claimed the Serbian champion title for the fourth consecutive time, finishing in 2:31:20. The women’s national champion is Jovana Stelkić, who crossed the line in 2:58:43.

The fastest half-marathon runner was Kenya’s Michael Mualoko, who completed the 21-kilometer course in 1:03:33. Ethiopia’s Demisu Gemeda finished second, 11 seconds behind, while third place went to Abdela Gemeda with a time of 1:05:06.

Kenya’s Kavindu Jakinta ensured the complete dominance of Kenyan runners, securing victory in all four races. She won the half-marathon with a time of 1:13:18. Second place went to Ivana Živković, who finished in 1:20:34, while third place was claimed by Martina Vasileva with a time of 1:27:40.

The 38th Comtrade Belgrade Marathon set a new participation record with 14,000 runners, and athletes also competed in the 10-kilometer race as well as the relay half-marathon.