2024 runner-up in a record-breaking marathon in Chicago and one of Ethiopia’s top marathon runners, Sutume Asefa Kebede, has become the newest member of On’s elite athlete team.

Silver in her On Debut

In a world-record-breaking race, Kebede held her own and sat in second place for the entirety of the 42.2km through the city of Chicago. With perfect weather for the marathon, Kebede found herself on a world-record course in the first kilometres, hanging on to Ruth Chepngetich's ruthless performance. Coming through the halfway mark, Kebede improved her previous PB by seven seconds but had to let go of any chance of winning as Chepngetich strode on. Kebede crossed the finish line in 02:17.32, just two minutes off her PB that she had set in Tokyo earlier this year.

A Champion to be reckoned with

Hailing from Ethiopia, Kebede has made a name for herself in the international running scene, with multiple podium finishes and victories in world-class marathon events. Her journey into the sport was inspired by her family and school, recognizing her natural talent for running at a young age. As a teenager, Kebede set a new national record in the 25-kilometre distance, and since then, she has focused on mastering the half and full marathon distances.

Among her notable achievements, Kebede won the 2019 Beijing Marathon, claimed silver at the Seoul Marathon in 2022, and secured third place at the 2020 Tokyo Marathon in a time of 2:18.11. She returned to Tokyo earlier this year to claim the title with a record-breaking time of 2:15:55, setting a new course record and personal best. Kebede ranks amongst the top ten fastest female runners in the world.

Kebede's dominance extends beyond full marathons. In 2024, she recorded a new personal best in the half marathon at the Houston Half Marathon, crossing the finish line in 1:04:37, the ninth-fastest time ever in women’s history and the fastest half marathon recorded in North America. In 2023, she set a new world best time for a 25-kilometer race in Kolkata, India.

The Marathon in Chicago was the first race for Kebede, kitted out by the Swiss sportswear brand On. Ahead of her first competition with her new sponsor, she shared her thoughts: “I’m excited to officially be part of the team and to celebrate my debut with On here in Chicago. On has achieved so much in just a short time, and the product quality is second to none. I’m so proud of my effort today against some of the best runners in the world. I went for it all and to come away with a silver medal in my first race as an On athlete feels special.”

Niklas Bühner, Athlete Manager at On, welcomed Kebede to the team: “We are delighted to welcome Sutume to the On team. Her achievements speak for themselves, and we believe this collaboration will inspire further success. We're proud of Sutume and her great result in Chicago. To have such a runner on the team is a true enrichment and we can't wait to see what the future of this partnership holds.”