Tamirat Tola kicked his year off in the win column after surging to victory and leading an Ethiopian sweep at the 2026 Ooredoo Doha Marathon on Friday as Tigist Gezahagn topped the women’s race.
Tola opened a narrow lead and pulled away late in the men’s race and grabbed the win in 2:05:40, a new course record for the event. Asefa Boki took second in 2:05:55 while Boki Diriba was third in 2:06:26 as Ethiopians took each podium spot and the top five men’s spots overall.
“After 35km I struggled a bit because of the windy conditions near the ocean side, but I managed to hold on to victory,” Tola said after the race. “The flatness of the course helped me maintain a strong rhythm despite the last seven kilometers.”
In the women’s race, Gezahagn led the way for another Ethiopian dominance of the top three spot as she soared to a 2:21:14 win, which is also her new personal best. Gezahagn Tigist Girma was second in 2:2:33 and Muluhabt Tsega finished third in 2:23:21.
Men’s elite finishers
1. Tamirat Tola (Ethiopia) – 2:05:40
2. Asefa Boki (Ethiopia) – 2:05:55
3. Boki Diriba (Ethiopia) – 2:06:26
4. Dinkalem Ayele (Ethiopia) – 2:06:43
5. Balew Yihunle (Ethiopia) – 2:07:07
6. Oqbe Kibrom Ruesom (Eritrea) – 2:07:55
7. Mulugeta Debasu (Ethiopia) – 2:09:49
8. Desalegn Girma (Ethiopia) – 2:10:43
9. Nicholas Kirwa (Kenya) – 2:10:56
10. Wbet Gebrheat Muruts (Ethiopia) – 2:12:04
Women’s elite finishers
1. Tigist Gezahagn (Ethiopia) – 2:21:14
2. Tigist Girma (Ethiopia) – 2:22:33
3. Muluhabt Tsega (Ethiopia) – 2:23:21
4. Amana Mursi Kipyatich (Kenya) – 2:23:43
5. Roman Gidey (Ethiopia) – 2:25:29
6. Alemtsehay Mekuria (Ethiopia) – 2:26:18
7. Aamelmal Tagel (Ethiopia) – 2:26:36
8. Sentayehu Lewetegn (Ethiopia) – 2:28:57
9. Ayantu Kumela (Ethiopia) – 2:29:31
10. Asimarech Naga (Ethiopia) – 2:36:48
