09/04/2026
RUNNING LEGEND PAUL TERGAT TO RECEIVE AFRICAN IMPACT AWARD AND JOIN 2026 GRAND AFRICAN RUN
ALEXANDRIA, VA: The distance-running legend Paul Tergat, one of the most accomplished and respected athletes in the history of the sport, will join the 2026 Grand African Run as a Guest of Honor on Saturday, October 10. The event will be held in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area, specifically in Alexandria, Virginia.
The 2026 edition marks the eighth year of the Grand African Run, an annual event created to celebrate the extraordinary track and field, distance running, and cross-country excellence of African athletes, while bringing communities together through sport. Although rooted in celebrating African athletic excellence, the Grand African Run is open to everyone, regardless of background, welcoming people from various communities to run, walk, and celebrate together.
Tergat will join previously announced Ethiopian running legends Derartu Tulu, Tirunesh Dibaba, and Sileshi Sihine, bringing together four of Africaβs most celebrated distance-running icons for the eighth edition of the Grand African Run.
In addition to serving as a Guest of Honor at the Grand African Run, Tergat will be a recipient of the seventh African Impact Award, which recognizes individuals whose achievements and contributions have made a lasting impact. Previous recipients from the world of sport include Derartu Tulu, Kenenisa Bekele, and Tirunesh Dibaba.
One of the greatest distance runners of his generation, Tergat is a five-time World Cross Country champion, two-time Olympic 10,000-meter silver medalist, former 10,000-meter and half-marathon world-record holder, and former marathon world-record holder. In 2003, he made history at the Berlin Marathon, running 2:04:55 to become the first man to break the 2:05 barrier in the marathon.
Beyond his extraordinary competitive career, Tergat has remained an influential leader and ambassador for sport, using his experience and global platform to promote athletics, inspire future generations, and give back to communities.
βPaul Tergat represents everything the Grand African Run stands for,β said Dr. Gashaw Abeza, director of the event. β... and, to have him alongside Derartu Tulu, Tirunesh Dibaba, and Sileshi Sihine on the same morning is a gift to our community and to everyone who laces up with us on October 10.β
Tergatβs appearance continues the Grand African Runβs tradition of bringing some of Africaβs most celebrated athletes together with the community. Over the past seven years, legendary and world-class athletes including Kenenisa Bekele, Genzebe Dibaba, Meseret Defar, Tigst Assefa, and Gudaf Tsegay, among others, have attended the event, helping establish the Grand African Run as a unique celebration of sport, community, culture, and African excellence.
The 2026 Grand African Run will take place on Saturday, October 10, in Alexandria, Virginia. Now entering its eighth year, the family-friendly event brings runners, walkers, families, and various communities from all backgrounds together for a morning that goes far beyond competition. Participants of all abilities are welcome, from competitive runners to those simply coming to walk, celebrate, and be part of the community.
For more information, www.africanrun.com
