Asmara Marathon 2026 delivered one of its closest finishes on Sunday, as Gash-Barka regional club runner Nahom Ermias claimed victory in the men’s marathon with a time of 2:16:22.
The race, held in Asmara on 7 June, marked the seventh edition of the annual marathon and added another chapter to Nahom’s growing record in Eritrean road running. His latest win follows previous victories in 2023 and 2025, making the 2026 title his third Asmara Marathon crown.
Nahom crossed the line only five seconds ahead of Olympian Oqbe Kibrom of the Central Region club, who finished second in 2:16:27. Another Olympian, Oqbay Tsegay of the Ministry of Defense’s Denden Club, took third place in 2:16:45.
The narrow gap between the top three runners gave the race a competitive edge rarely seen in city marathons, with less than half a minute separating the podium finishers. It also underlined the depth of Eritrea’s long-distance talent, where established Olympians and rising domestic club athletes continue to push each other on the national stage.
For Nahom, the result confirms his status as one of the standout performers of the Asmara Marathon era. Winning once can mark a breakthrough. Winning three times, across different editions, turns a runner into part of the event’s story.
The Asmara Marathon has become an important fixture in Eritrea’s sporting calendar, giving local athletes a major competitive platform while drawing attention to the country’s deep running culture. Sunday’s result showed why the race continues to matter: not only as a public sporting event, but as a measure of Eritrea’s next generation of distance runners.
