THE 2026 Cebu Marathon concluded in disappointment for runners who finished their races without receiving a medal.
The Cebu Marathon’s organizing committee issued an apology Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, after many participants in the 42K and 21K categories were left empty-handed at the finish line. Despite the participation of 12,000 runners, the event was marred by logistical failures that resulted in boos from the crowd and a delayed distribution process that did not begin until nearly 7 a.m.
The big question
How did a major sporting event fail to uphold the standard protocol of immediate medal distribution?
Logistical timeline
Standard marathon protocol dictates that runners receive their finisher medals immediately upon crossing the finish line. This immediate recognition is a staple of endurance racing, serving as tangible proof of the athlete’s accomplishment. However, during Sunday’s race, early finishers found no medals waiting for them.
According to the organizing committee, the shipment of medals did not reach the race venue until 6:51 a.m. By this time, many participants had already finished their events and waited for hours. Because there was no certainty regarding the shipment’s arrival on race morning, officials made no announcements onsite, leading to confusion and frustration among the runners.
Supply chain disruption
The delay stemmed from issues with the production and shipping of the medals. The items were produced by Suarez Arts, a long-time supplier for the marathon since 2011. Organizers stated that Suarez Arts failed to deliver the medals as scheduled, despite repeated assurances that the deadline would be met.
The committee revealed that they were initially informed the medals would not arrive in time for the event. A last-minute release from Customs at the Port of Manila allowed for an attempt to fly the medals to Cebu, but offloading issues and subsequent transport delays prevented them from arriving before the first runners crossed the finish line.
Organizer response
While the organizers pointed to the supplier’s failure to deliver, they acknowledged that the ultimate duty to the runners lay with the committee. In their statement, they noted that the medal is essential to the runner’s experience.
“For many runners, that medal is not just an item; it is a symbol of completion and achievement. We failed to deliver that moment to you,” read a portion of the statement.
The organizers have formally demanded accountability from Suarez Arts. They are requiring the supplier to be directly involved in distributing the remaining medals, specifically to those runners who are not based in Cebu.
What happens next for affected runners
The organizing committee has assured all finishers that they will receive their earned medals. The focus has now shifted to logistics for those who left the venue empty-handed.
Runners who did not receive their medals are advised to contact the organizers to arrange for delivery. Affected participants should email info@cebumarathon.com.ph or cebumarathon2026@gmail.com to coordinate the receipt of their finisher’s medal. / CDF