Sabastian Sawe to Headline 2025 BMW Berlin Marathon

Kenyan marathon sensation Sabastian Sawe will line up for the 2025 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 21, organizers announced today. Renowned as the world’s fastest marathon course, Berlin will host its 51st edition this autumn, with a record-setting legacy that includes 13 world records since 1998.

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The 30-year-old Sawe, reigning World Half Marathon Champion, will contest his third marathon in the German capital. He burst onto the marathon scene with a blazing 2:02:05 debut in Valencia in December 2024 — the fifth-fastest time in history and the second-quickest debut ever. His performance remained the world-leading time for 2024. Sawe followed up with another masterclass this spring, winning the London Marathon in 2:02:27 to again top the global rankings.

No stranger to Berlin, Sawe won the 2023 GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 59:00. With fond memories of the city and its famously flat and fast course, he may well target a new personal best in September.

“We are delighted that Sabastian Sawe has chosen to return to Berlin,” said Race Director Mark Milde. “He impressed here before, and we’re expecting an electrifying race.”

Sawe will face tough competition in a stacked elite field, including defending champion Milkesa Mengesha and Tanzanian national record holder Gabriel Geay. Mengesha stunned the field last year with a 2:03:17 personal best to win Berlin’s 50th edition. Geay, who clocked a lifetime best of 2:03:00 in Valencia in 2022, returned to form this February with a 2:05:20 victory in Daegu, South Korea.

“No other race has produced as many world records as Berlin,” noted Jürgen Lock, Managing Director of SCC EVENTS. “As co-founders of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, we are proud to continue setting the standard for world-class marathon racing.”

More information is available online at: www.berlin-marathon.com