Kenya's Cheruiyot and Chepngeno Dominate Linz Marathon as Austrian Runners Fall Short of Records Linz, Austria — April 12, 2026
Kenyan runners Abednego Cheruiyot and Jackline Chepngeno claimed victory at the 24th Linz Marathon on Sunday, while Austrian hopeful Julia Mayer narrowly missed breaking the national record in the women's race.
## Men's Race: Cheruiyot Triumphs Abednego Cheruiyot secured the men's title with a winning time of 2:08:53 hours, outpacing Ethiopia's Sahelislassie Bekele, who finished second in 2:09:32. Cheruiyot, visibly elated after the race, expressed his affection for the Austrian city, saying, *"Ich liebe Linz, ich komme nächstes Jahr wieder"* ("I love Linz, I will come back next year").
Meanwhile, Austria's Mario Bauernfeind crossed the line in eighth place with a time of 2:19:41, earning him the title of Austrian champion for the third time. Bauernfeind, who had aimed to finish under 2:20 hours, confirmed his strategy worked: *"Das war genau mein Plan"* ("That was exactly my plan").
## Women's Race: Chepngeno Surprises In the women's division, Jackline Chepngeno of Kenya delivered a standout performance, clinching victory with a time of 2:26:01. Her compatriot Mary Munanu followed closely in second place at 2:26:59. Chepngeno, who admitted she hadn't expected to win, said afterward, *"Ich habe das nicht erwartet"* ("I did not expect that").
Austria's Julia Mayer finished third in 2:29:48, falling just short of the national record of 2:26:08. Reflecting on her race, Mayer acknowledged her struggles: *"Bis km 25 hab ich alles probiert, aber ich habe von Anfang an gemerkt, dass es nicht mein Tag ist heute"* ("Until kilometer 25, I tried everything, but I realized from the start that it wasn’t my day today").
## Austrian Performances While Cheruiyot and Chepngeno celebrated their wins, Austrian runners faced mixed results. Mayer's near-miss of the national record highlighted the competitive gap, though her third-place finish still marked a strong showing. Bauernfeind's consistent performance solidified his reputation as a top Austrian marathoner, even if he trailed the international front-runners.
The event underscored the dominance of East African runners in long-distance races, with Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes claiming the top spots in both categories. For Austrian fans, the focus now shifts to whether local runners can close the gap in future editions.
## Looking Ahead With Cheruiyot already pledging to return next year, organizers anticipate another competitive field in 2027. For Austria’s elite runners, the challenge remains clear: to bridge the divide between regional success and international podium finishes. Mayer’s near-record effort suggests progress, but the Linz Marathon’s 2026 edition ultimately belonged to Kenya.