BURIRAM, THAILAND – The Buriram Marathon 2026 established itself at its 10th edition as a leading night race in Southeast Asia and turned the city into a continuous sports arena.
Record participation at anniversary race
The 10th anniversary edition attracted 35,789 participants from Thailand and abroad, supported by more than 7,000 volunteers. Over 70,000 spectators lined the course and created a constant backdrop of noise throughout the night.
The race started at the Chang International Circuit, the province’s internationally known motorsport track, and finished in the adjacent Chang Arena, home stadium of the local top-flight football club. The combination of both venues gave the event a festival-like atmosphere from start to finish.
Official backing and international status
The opening ceremony and start were led by Piya Pijnam, governor of Buriram, together with Newin Chidchob, chairman of the Chang International Circuit, and representatives from the public and private sectors. According to the organisers, this underlined the race’s national significance.
The event was held under the World Athletics Road Race Label, allowing recorded times to be used for qualification at international competitions. This served as an important incentive for performance-oriented runners from across the region.
Four certified distances draw strong fields
Runners competed over four officially measured distances: marathon (42.195 km), half marathon (21.1 km), mini-marathon (10 km) and fun run (4.554 km). The organisers reported strong participation in all categories.
They emphasised that the certified course and distance options were designed to appeal both to elite athletes and to recreational runners from the local community.
International elite lead men’s marathon
In the men’s open marathon, Barnabas Kiplimo of Kenya won in 2:21:16. Defending champion Wondwesen Damte of Ethiopia finished second in 2:22:52, followed by Kenyan runner Julius Manas in 2:27:34.
Thailand’s long-distance specialist Ton–Sanchai Namket crossed the line in 2:29:24 to secure the national title once again. He claimed the King’s Trophy of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati for the seventh time, setting a record in the history of the race.
Breakthrough in women’s field with strong Thai performances
In the women’s marathon, Marta Birehan of Ethiopia took victory in 2:51:01. Arongkorn Wongsa placed second in 2:53:28 and, for the first time, was the fastest runner from the host nation.
Long-time national frontrunner Linda Jantachit, a six-time former Thai champion, finished third in 3:01:16. The results highlighted both international depth and competitive domestic performances.
Buriram’s profile as sports hub grows
The organisers stated that the marathon further cemented Buriram’s reputation as a sporting hub.
“The race combines international standards with strong participation from the local community.”
said the organising committee, according to the event information.
They added that the event was expected to continue under the World Athletics certification in the future. The focus, they said, would remain on specifically promoting Thai runners and securing the race’s role as a qualification platform for global competitions, keeping the Buriram Marathon as a key date in the Southeast Asian road-running calendar.