Ugandan marathon star Stella Chesang opened her 2026 season with a statement win, claiming gold at the Osaka Women’s Marathon after clocking a world leading time of 2:19:33 on Sunday January 25 in Japan.
Chesang’s time is the fastest recorded anywhere in the world this season and came at one of athletics’ most prestigious events, a Platinum Label road race, underlining her strong early form and ambitions for the year.
She ran with control and confidence throughout, gradually asserting herself against a quality field that included several Ethiopian contenders. Chesang made her decisive move late in the race to pull clear and secure victory in convincing fashion.
Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa finished second in 2:19:54, while Workenesh Edesa took third place in 2:19:56, as Chesang stood alone at the top after a tightly contested race.
The Osaka victory not only puts Chesang at the top of the global marathon standings for 2026 so far, but also marks a significant milestone as she writes her name into the season’s record books with a performance that sets the tone for the months ahead.
