Ethiopia’s long-distance sensation Fotyen Tesfay produced a marathon debut for the ages at the Barcelona Marathon, clocking a breathtaking 2:10:51 to win the race and move to second on the all-time women’s marathon list.
Running her first-ever 42.195 km race, the 28-year-old stunned the field with an aggressive pace through the streets of Barcelona. Tesfay went through the halfway mark well inside world-record pace and continued to push the tempo deep into the race, showing remarkable endurance and confidence.
Only the world record held by Ruth Chepngetich now stands ahead of Tesfay’s remarkable mark, making the Ethiopian’s performance one of the fastest marathon runs ever recorded and the greatest debut in the history of women’s marathon running.
“I felt strong throughout the race and wanted to test myself over the distance,” Tesfay said after crossing the finish line. “Running my first marathon like this is very special.”
Tesfay had previously built her reputation as an elite road runner, excelling in shorter distances and the half marathon. Her endurance background and tactical discipline were evident as she maintained an impressive rhythm for most of the race, only easing slightly in the final kilometres.
The performance instantly elevates Tesfay into the top tier of global marathon running and suggests she could soon challenge the very limits of the event.
The men’s race also produced an exciting finish, with Uganda’s Abel Chelangat claiming victory in 2:04:57, capping a day of outstanding distance running in Barcelona.
Key Highlights
Winner: Fotyen Tesfay (Ethiopia)
Time: 2:10:51
Achievement: Second-fastest women’s marathon in history
Special Record: Fastest marathon debut ever
With such a sensational first attempt at the distance, Tesfay’s performance has already sparked excitement in the athletics world—raising the possibility that the marathon record books may soon face another rewrite.
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