Leonie Périault’s 1:09:25 Berlin Half Marathon: France Is Ready for 2026
French triathlete Leonie Périault has sent a clear message to the 2026 WTCS field: she is in the form of her life. Running 1:09:25 at the Berlin Half Marathon, she clocked one of the fastest half marathon times ever recorded by a female triathlete, cementing her status as the athlete to beat when the World Triathlon Championship Series kicks off in Samarkand on April 26.
The Run That Has Everyone Talking
A 1:09:25 half marathon puts Périault comfortably inside the top tier of road runners, not just triathletes. For context, the fastest half marathon by a female triathlete had long hovered around the 1:10 mark. Périault smashed through that threshold on the flat Berlin course, arriving at the WTCS season opener with momentum that few rivals can match. It is a time that signals not just fitness, but race sharpness.
What This Means for the 2026 WTCS Season
The 2026 WTCS season is the first to award meaningful LA28 Olympic qualification points from race one. Périault won two WTCS gold medals in 2025 and will be hungry to add more as the Los Angeles pathway opens. Her Berlin performance suggests the run leg — already her strongest discipline — has reached a new ceiling. If her swim has kept pace over the winter block, she could be close to unbeatable at Samarkand.
Who Can Stop Her?
Reigning world champion Lisa Tertsch will be aiming to defend her 2025 title from the opening race. Germany fields a formidable team in 2026, with WTCS medallists Tanja Neubert, Nina Eim (fresh off her Lanzarote World Cup win), Annika Koch, and the returning Laura Lindemann all capable of pushing Périault hard. Cassandre Beaugrand is also firmly in the mix. But with a sub-1:10 half marathon in the build-up, Périault arrives at the start line as the clear favourite.
Key Dates: Périault’s 2026 WTCS Calendar
- April 26 — WTCS Samarkand, Uzbekistan (season opener)
- May 16–17 — WTCS Yokohama, Japan
- July 25–26 — WTCS London (UK fans, this one is for you)
- TBC — WTCS Grand Final
With LA28 qualification points accumulating from the first race, consistency across the full 10-race calendar will be just as important as individual wins. After that Berlin run, Périault looks ready to deliver both.
