Ethiopian Dominance in Berlin: Tigst Assefa to Tigist Ketema and Beyond in 2025?

The torch of victory in the prestigious BMW BERLIN-MARATHON has smoothly transitioned from Tigst Assefa to Tigist Ketema, keeping the triumph within their Addis Ababa training group and circle of friends. Preceding this, Milkesa Mengesha marked his victory as the first man to cross the Brandenburg Gate, leading an impressive ensemble of 54,280 participants in the marathon's 50th anniversary. This solidified an Ethiopian sweep at the event.

Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist Ketema exemplify the emerging talent securing wins in Berlin, despite their recent introductions to marathon racing. At just 24, former 5,000m runner Mengesha, who competed in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, has quickly ascended to the elite ranks of marathon runners. His time of 2:03:17 at Berlin, improving his personal best by over two minutes, positions him among the top global performers this year. “The numerous rigorous training sessions paid off, making the race surprisingly manageable and enjoyable,” Mengesha shared. Hailing from Ethiopia's western province of Welega, Mengesha is one of seven siblings.

Following Tigst Assefa’s phenomenal world record-setting run of 2:11:53 at Berlin last year, Tigist Ketema continued the winning streak. Transitioning from a middle-distance background, including a third-place finish at the 800m in the 2016 World Junior Championships, Ketema has successfully stepped up to marathon distances. Her debut marathon in Dubai this January was nothing short of remarkable, clocking the fastest debut time for a woman at 2:16:07. “Initially, I was apprehensive about the marathon distance, but now I wonder why I ever was,” Ketema reflected after her victory.

“My goal was to hit a personal best in Berlin, but I am thrilled with the victory and my performance,” stated Ketema, who trains under Gemedu Dedefo alongside notables like world record holder Assefa, World Champion Amane Beriso, and Olympic gold medalist Tamirat Tola, forming one of the most formidable training squads globally.

As the group eyes continued success, Tigst Assefa shared her aspirations for the 2025 Berlin Marathon, aiming to “add another remarkable chapter to history.” She also expressed ambitions to shatter her own records, targeting a sub-2:10 marathon as discussed in her recent ‘Athletics Weekly’ interview.

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