2026 Casablanca Marathon: Kenya’s Daniel Kiprono Sang Wins in 2:06:41, Moroccans Sweep Half

From Harry Awurumibe,  Live in Morocco

Kenya’s Daniel Kiprono Sang won the 17th Casablanca International Marathon on Sunday, October 25, finishing in 2:06:41 at the foot of the Hassan II Mosque, where the race starts and ends.

His compatriot Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo came in 36 seconds behind (2:07:17), Ethiopia’s Mandefro Workineh Tadese completed the podium in 2:08:40, and Morocco’s Said Ibissou took a close fourth place in 2:08:52.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Ayalew Bere won in 2:25:21 ahead of Morocco’s Soukaina Atanane (2:26:40) and Kenya’s Gladys Cherop Longari (2:27:21).

The official timing classifies seven hundred and fifty-two men and eighty-nine women over the full distance. The half marathon, for its part, was a Moroccan affair.

 Yakoub Labquira won it in 1:01:21, 4 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Shadrack Korir Kipyegon and 12 ahead of Uganda’s Martin Magengo Kiprotich, while Fatiha Asmid, Meryeme Azrour and Kaoutar Farkoussi swept the women’s podium, the winner in 1:07:22.

The announced favorite, El Hassan El Abbassi, who holds a personal best of 2:04:43 and was entered under the colors of Bahrain, finished only tenth in the marathon in 2:10:26.

Organized for the second year by the Association des Coureurs du Grand Casablanca, the race offered 20,000 dollars to each marathon winner. It will above all leave the image of Moroccan distance running back in contention: a second place among the women, three Moroccans in the men’s top ten, and both half marathons.