Tigst Assefa secured her third Berlin Marathon victory, finishing in 2:11:04. The Ethiopian set a course record and the third-fastest time in women’s marathon history, but fell short of Ruth Chepngetich’s world record of 2:09:56, set in Chicago in 2024.
Assefa was struck by cramps in the final kilometre. She continued despite the pain and maintained her pace to the finish. For much of the race she had been on course to challenge the world record. Before the start, she said she was well prepared and wanted to improve her personal best.
The win repeated Assefa’s Berlin triumphs in 2022 and 2023. In 2023 she ran 2:11:53 to set a world record, later surpassed by Chepngetich. The report said Chepngetich is currently suspended after a positive doping test, but her world record remains in force. This was the 52nd Berlin Marathon.
Esther Pfeiffer, who had hoped to break Irina Mikitenko’s German record of 2:19:19 from 2008, withdrew at around 15 kilometres during the second marathon of her career.
Ethiopia’s Guye Adola won the men’s race in 2:02:51 after world-record holder Sabastian Sawe withdrew with an injury. Germany’s leading marathon runners, including European champion Amanal Petros, were not in Berlin.