At 7:30 a.m. Beijing time on November 16, 2025, the 2025 Nanjing Marathon started at the Olympic Sports Center. The race brought together many domestic non-registered athletes, including Li Zicheng, Hong Yue, Sha Zhengyou, and Wang Jiahao. Jia Erenjia, who missed out on the National Games, was a strong contender for the title, while Nanjing's top amateur Di Yun and local runner Sheng Wang were also in the field.

The men's lead pack reached 20 km in 1:03:39, and Jia Erenjia began to fall off the front group at 23 km. At 25 km,Di Yun was still near the front, with a time of 1:18:59, and the pace increased to 3:10 per kilometer.

After 25 kilometers the leading group began to split. Foreign runner Boaz Kipkemei surged, with Li Zicheng, Behane Tsegay Tekle and Wang Jiahao close behind. After 30 kilometers, Wang Jiahao also dropped out of the top three and lost ground.

After that,Li Zicheng and Behane Tsegay Tekle ran together, even having physical contact at one point, while the leader Boaz Kipkemei pulled away decisively, building a sizable lead。

Ultimately,Boaz Kipkemei took the victory in 2:12:00. Li Zicheng accelerated on the final bend to claim second in 2:12:39, the top domestic finisher, and third place went to Behane Tsegay Tekle.

Wang Jiahao gradually closed in on the runner ahead before the finish, taking fourth overall and second domestically. Di Yun performed strongly, again running 2:14, finishing fifth overall and third domestically.

Ethiopia's Mestawut Fikir Truneh ran 2:24:10 to break the women's course record at the Nanjing Marathon and claim the title. The women's runner-up, Kumeshi Sichala Deressa, and third-placed Anchalem Haymanote Wibineh also each broke the previous course record.

The dark horse of the race was Zheng Xiaoqian, running her first marathon, who burst into the sub-2:30 range and, with 2:29:06, took first among domestic women and met the international qualifying standard.