The Osaka Marathon 2026, held on February 22, 2026, turned into a world-class high-speed race, producing a new men’s course record. Japanese runners also secured MGC (Marathon Grand Championship) qualification spots in both men’s and women’s races, making this a crucial battle on the road to the Los Angeles Olympics.
Men’s Results (Top 10)
| Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | I. Hassan (Djibouti) | 2:05:20 = New course record |
| 2 | Y. Adan (Ethiopia) | 2:05:33 = New course record |
| 3 | E.K. Tanui (Kenya) | 2:05:55 |
| 4 | B. Tunyo (Kenya) | 2:06:10 |
| 5 | Kiyozumi Hirabayashi (Japan / Logisteed) | 2:06:14 = Earned MGC qualification |
| 6 | Kazuki Yamashita (Japan / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) | 2:06:18 = Earned MGC qualification |
| 7 | Yuki Takei (Japan / JR East) | 2:06:24 = Earned MGC qualification |
| 8 | Yuhei Urano (Japan / Fujitsu) | 2:06:41 = Earned MGC qualification |
| 9 | Kyohei Hosoya (Japan / Kurosaki Harima) | 2:06:44 |
| 10 | Ryo Goda (Japan / Yaskawa Electric) | 2:06:51 = Earned MGC qualification |
Women’s Results (Top 10)
| Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. Dibaba (Ethiopia) | 2:21:44 = New course record |
| 2 | E. Chemtai (Kenya) | 2:22:04 = New course record |
| 3 | R. Cherimo (Bahrain) | 2:22:52 |
| 4 | A. Godfa (Ethiopia) | 2:23:28 |
| 5 | F.E. Gardaddi (Morocco) | 2:24:06 |
| 6 | Kaede Kawamura (Japan / Iwatani Corporation) | 2:25:55 = Earned MGC qualification |
| 7 | Zheng Xiaoqian (China) | 2:28:45 |
| 8 | T. Palm (Australia) | 2:31:58 |
| 9 | Mao Kiyota (Japan / Suzuki) | 2:32:05 |
| 10 | Kotomi Tsubokura (Japan / Wacoal) | 2:32:34 |
Key Topics
■ Kiyozumi Hirabayashi leads the Japanese contingent and earns an MGC spot
Hirabayashi placed 5th in 2:06:14 as the top Japanese finisher. He cleared the qualifying standard and secured a spot in the MGC.
■ Hibiki Yoshida shows a bold solo lead in his marathon debut
In his first marathon, Hibiki Yoshida made a daring move early on, surging ahead of the pacemakers to take the lead. (35 km: 1:43:21 = Japanese best) Although he faded in the second half, he still finished 34th in 2:09:35 and left a strong impression.
■ Kaede Kawamura tops the Japanese women and punches her MGC ticket
In the women’s race, Kawamura finished 6th in 2:25:55 as the top Japanese runner. She also surpassed the qualifying standard and earned an MGC spot.
A Key Race on the Road to Los Angeles
The Osaka Marathon is known as one of Japan’s fastest courses and is positioned as an important Olympic selection race.
In this edition,
Men: Kiyozumi Hirabayashi
Women: Kaede Kawamura
secured MGC qualification, and the battle for Olympic selection is set to intensify even further.
World-class times and the rise of new Japanese contenders.
Osaka Marathon 2026 became a race that offers clues to the next generation of Japanese marathon running.
Official Information
For full details on the official rankings and records, please check the event’s official website.
Osaka Marathon Official Website
