Ethiopian distance runner Fotyen Tesfay has officially set the marathon world on fire with a breathtaking performance in Barcelona. In her very first attempt at the distance, the 28-year-old clocked an incredible 2:10:53, securing the second-fastest women’s time in history. Despite heavy winds hampering her final sprint, Tesfay dominated the field, finishing nearly eight minutes ahead of her closest rival. While she narrowly missed Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56 by less than a minute, her fearless debut signals a new era for long-distance running. Tesfay is already eyeing the top spot on the all-time list, declaring that she would try for it in her next marathon.

Source: Ethiopian News March 17, 2026 10:36 UTC