Lilian Chebii, a 32-year-old Kenya-born runner, won the women's field at the 2026 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 4, in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 26 seconds. That time lowered the women's course record of 2:26:51, set by Russia's Zinaida Semenova in 2001 and matched by Irina Permitina in 2004, making her the first woman to break that mark in a quarter century. "I tried my best to run 2:25," Chebii told KARE11 after finishing, per MPR News. "I didn't know I'd break the course record, but I say thank you."

The men's race went to 28-year-old Victor Shitsama, who won in 2:12:20 on his marathon debut, finishing 16 seconds ahead of Andrew Kaye (2:12:36), with Amanuel Tikue third in 2:12:58. Born in Kenya, Shitsama was an All-American in cross country at Oklahoma State University, per Pioneer Press. "The weather was nice. I was feeling good," he told KARE11, per MPR News, explaining he waited for the right moment to make his move. Defending champion Will Norris placed eighth in 2:17:27.

The point-to-point course runs from downtown Minneapolis around the lakes, along the Mississippi River and down Summit Avenue to the Minnesota State Capitol. Around 50 degrees at the start and 57 degrees when the winners finished, conditions were favorable for fast times. Minnesotans swept both 10-mile podiums, with Leo Goodman winning the men's race in 49:14 and Elizabeth Klecker the women's in 57:33, Pioneer Press reports.

Starting in 2027, the marathon moves from its traditional first weekend in October to mid-October, after several years of hot race-day conditions, with organizers also expecting more vibrant fall colors on the new dates, per CBS News and Pioneer Press. This year's edition was the 45th running of the event.