The South African clocked 2:07:21 to win the International Peace Marathon and significantly improve his personal best.
Slovakia (08 October 2026) – Adam Lipschitz has gone from saying he could do something big in Košice to actually doing it.
The South African marathoner delivered a huge performance at the 103rd International Peace Marathon in Slovakia, crossing the finish line in 2:07:21 to claim the title and, in the process, significantly lower his personal best.
Lipschitz finished 32 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Abednego Cheruiyot, while last year’s champion, Moses Kipngetich Kemei, had to settle for third.
And the result did not exactly come out of nowhere.
“I said I would come back and that I could achieve something big here six months ago. I’ve had good preparation, and I’ve also performed well in races this season.” – Lipschitz told Slovak public broadcaster STVR.
Well, talk about backing yourself.
The race got off to a seriously quick start, with three pacemakers dragging the elite field through the early kilometres at around three minutes per kilometre. Despite warm conditions, the leading runners showed little interest in slowing down.
In fact, they reached the halfway turnaround around 45 seconds ahead of the pace set during last year’s record-breaking race.
That made the possibility of another course record look very real. But while Kemei’s record survived, Lipschitz certainly left his mark on the 2026 edition. The victory is another big milestone for a man who has been building quite a name for himself on and off the road.
Related Stories
South Africa's Para Surfing Stars Need a Little Help to Make a Big Splash
Pieter Coetzé Sets African Record on Way to Baku GoldThere are only a handful of South African men who have run a marathon in under 2:10 this decade, and Lipschitz is part of that rather exclusive group.
Lipschitz founded the Social Runners Club, which has grown to more than 600 active members, and he is involved in organising three road-running events every year. That has made him a familiar figure in KwaZulu-Natal’s running community, both as an athlete and as someone helping create opportunities for other runners.
His outspoken personality has also made him a notable voice in the sport. As chair of the Social Runners Club, Lipschitz has attended KZN Athletics council meetings and has not been shy about sharing his views.
But if there was any doubt about what Lipschitz thought he was capable of, his latest result is a pretty convincing answer.
He arrived in Košice six months after predicting he could achieve something special. He leaves Slovakia as the International Peace Marathon champion.
by 
