Military endurance shines at the 3rd CISM World Military Half Marathon Championship in Antalya
ANTALYA (TUR) – The 3rd CISM World Military Half Marathon Championship took place today, April 5, in Antalya, Türkiye, gathering military athletes from across the world for a high-level endurance competition marked by intensity, performance and international camaraderie.
Held from 3 to 7 April 2026, the championship was integrated into the prestigious Runtalya Marathon, officially known as Runtalya presented by Fraport TAV. Established in 2006, this major international race has become one of Türkiye’s most important running events, second only to the Istanbul Marathon, and continues to attract a growing number of participants each year. The 2026 edition brought together approximately 10,500 runners across the half marathon, 10 km and 5 km distances, offering an exceptional platform for the CISM championship.
In the women’s race, which featured 44 athletes, the level of competition was particularly strong. Sisilia Panga of Tanzania delivered an outstanding performance to claim victory in 1:09:25, setting the pace from the early stages of the race. She was followed by Luiza Lega of Russia in 1:10:57, while Türkiye’s Nursena Ceto secured third place in 1:11:17, confirming the strength of the host nation on home soil. The depth of the Turkish team was further illustrated by Bahar Yildirim, who finished just outside the podium, while Italy’s Elisa Palmero completed the top five. This collective strength translated into the team standings, where Türkiye claimed first place ahead of Russia and Brazil.
The men’s competition, contested by 76 athletes, delivered an exceptional level of performance highlighted by a historic achievement. Türkiye’s Ali Kaya produced a remarkable run to win in 1:00:59, setting a new CISM world record in the half marathon. His performance, combining speed, endurance and tactical mastery, now stands as the fastest time ever recorded in the history of CISM for this discipline. He was closely pursued by Tanzania’s Inyasi Sulley, who crossed the line in 1:02:01, while Artem Popov of Russia secured third place in 1:02:12. Italy’s Ahmed Ouhda and Brazil’s Fabio De Jesus Correia rounded out a highly competitive top five. In the team classification, Türkiye once again demonstrated its dominance by taking first place, ahead of Russia and Italy.
In recognition of its outstanding overall performance and exemplary team spirit throughout the event, Türkiye was also awarded the prestigious Friendship through Sport Trophy, sponsored by A5 DM, CISM’s Turkish partner, further highlighting the strong collaboration between CISM and its stakeholders in promoting the values of sport, solidarity and international friendship.
Beyond the results, the championship once again highlighted the excellence and commitment of military athletes, competing at the highest level while embodying the core values of CISM. The integration of the event within a major international race such as the Runtalya Marathon reinforces the connection between military sport and the global sporting movement, while offering increased visibility and engagement with the wider public.
All official results of the championship are available online via the official timing platform: https://sonuc.plustiming.com/results.aspx?CId=16389&RId=325&EId=8&dt=0.
This successful edition in Antalya will be remembered not only for its strong participation and competitive spirit, but also for the historic record set on Turkish soil, further strengthening the legacy of military sport under the CISM motto, “Friendship through Sport.”
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)
