Samson Lemayan and debutant Lydia Simiyu successfully defended their titles at the 26th Lewa Safari Marathon held at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Meru County on Saturday.

• Samson Lemayan clocked 2:27:04 to win the men's 42km race, while Lydia Simiyu finished in 2:50:39 to secure the women's crown.
• Both winners, KWS rangers, overcame nagging injuries to emerge victorious in the event which attracted over 1300 participants from 33 countries.
• Organizers, including representatives from Safaricom and Tusk Trust, praised the athletes and underscored the marathon's commitment to conservation and community impact.