Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist KetemaTriumph at the 50th BMW Berlin Marathon

Ethiopians Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist Ketema secured victories in the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON under optimal weather conditions, sunny and cool. Mengesha won with a spectacular time of 2:03:17, ranking as the third fastest globally this year. He was closely followed by Kenyan Cybrian Kotut, who clocked in at 2:03:22, and fellow Ethiopian Haymanot Alew at 2:03:31. Another notable performance came from Kenyan Stephen Kiprop with a time of 2:03:37. Germany’s Sebastian Hendel also impressed by recording a personal best of 2:07:33, making him the fifth fastest German in history.

Tigist Ketema led the women’s division with a remarkable finish of 2:16:42, marking it as the third quickest in the marathon’s 50-year history. She was ahead of Ethiopians Mestawot Fikir and Bosena Mulatie, who completed the race in 2:18:48 and 2:19:00, respectively. German runner Melat Kejeta finished eleventh with a time of 2:23:40.

Despite no new records, the marathon still showcased exceptional performances with a combined winning time of 4:19:59, placing it as the twelfth fastest ever globally and fourth in Berlin. It was a historic race with four men finishing below 2:04 for the first time in Berlin, attracting 58,212 participants from 161 countries.

The men's race set off at a brisk pace led by pacemakers, aiming near the course record of 2:01:09. However, after a swift half marathon time of 60:57, the pace noticeably decreased post-25km. By 35km, only four men remained in contention. The pivotal moment arrived just before the Brandenburg Gate, where Mengesha surged ahead of Kotut, clinching the win. Mengesha commented on his victory, emphasizing the lack of pressure and his significant progress, citing a previous best of 2:05:29.

Sebastian Hendel’s performance stood out as he advanced significantly in the second half, overtaking fellow Germans and expressing his delight at his unexpected top German finish.

For the women, Ketema essentially led from start to finish, with only Azmera Gebru briefly challenging her. Despite aiming for a personal best, Ketema was satisfied with her win and finish time, having already won in Dubai earlier in the year. Her compatriots, Fikir and Mulatie, also recorded personal bests, significantly lowering their times.

Melat Kejeta aimed to surpass the German record but faced challenges in the second half due to knee issues, finishing in 2:23:40. She acknowledged the ambitious pace but lamented the physical toll it took on her performance.

• BERLIN MARATHON FULL RESULTS

Men's Marathon Leading Results

Women's Marathon Leading Results