Preview: Wanjiru and Dida Lead Star-Studded Women’s Elite Field at the BMW Berlin Marathon

Posted by: Watch Athletics

Friday, 19 September 2025

Featuring unprecedented depth, the 51st edition of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will take place on Sunday morning in the German capital. Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru, the likely favourite, headlines the women’s elite field with a personal best of 2:16:14. Remarkably, seven athletes on the start list have run under 2:20:00 — matching the number who competed at last Sunday’s World Championships marathon in Tokyo. Six of them have even broken the 2:19:00 barrier, a first for Berlin. With the course renowned for its speed, extraordinary times could be on the cards again despite a relatively warm weather forecast, as the world-leading mark of 2:15:50 becomes the target.

With more than 55,000 participants from 160 nations, the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will once again rank among the world’s largest and most prestigious marathons.

Wanjiru knows Berlin’s course well. Three years ago, she made a strong marathon debut here, finishing second in 2:18:00. “If the weather is good and I feel fine in the morning, I intend to run a very fast time,” said the 30-year-old Kenyan during the pre-race press conference. With her 2:16:14 personal best, Wanjiru is the fastest woman on this year’s start list.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida, the wife of Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola, is also a proven force on the Berlin course. She finished sixth here in 2023 with 2:19:24 and improved her personal best to 2:18:32 in Dubai this January. “I have been training intensively with Tamirat and want to run a personal best on Sunday. I am looking forward to the great atmosphere along the course and want to give something back to the spectators with a top performance,” said the 28-year-old, who is aiming to continue a remarkable winning streak — each of the last three women’s winners in Berlin have come from her training group in Addis Ababa.

Japanese record holder Honami Maeda is another sub-2:19 contender who could extend her country’s rich tradition in Berlin. Japan’s Naoko Takahashi made history here in 2001 as the first woman to break 2:20 with 2:19:46, followed by Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi, who won in 2:19:12 in 2005. That national record stood for 19 years until Maeda broke it in Osaka in January 2024, clocking 2:18:59. “Berlin is a restart for me because I was injured for a long time. I will run as fast as possible,” said Maeda, who will be contesting her first marathon since setting the record.

Norway’s Karoline Grøvdal was forced to withdraw at short notice due to illness, which opens the door for a German athlete to be the top European finisher. Domenika Mayer, Germany’s most consistent marathoner in recent years, looks set to take that role. The 34-year-old ran her personal best of 2:23:47 at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON two years ago, qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games, where she finished 28th as the top German. “I am looking forward to the great atmosphere in Berlin and want to try to run a personal best. I had some health problems during my preparation, but I got back on track just in time,” said Mayer, who is the third-fastest German marathoner in history.

Fabienne Königstein (PB 2:25:48) is also expected to impress. After battling injuries and illness for several years, she made a promising comeback this spring. “I really enjoy my running,” said the 32-year-old, who placed fourth at the Vienna Marathon. “I am well prepared and want to run under 2:23:00 on Sunday.”

Deborah Schöneborn, representing Marathon Team Berlin, the club affiliated with the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, is the second-fastest German in the field with a 2:24:54 personal best. She has struggled with recurring foot problems over the past 18 months but is finally healthy again. “I am glad that I can start the race in good health and I am looking forward to it,” said the 31-year-old, who will be contesting her tenth career marathon on Sunday.

Elite Women for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:

Rosemary Wanjiru KEN 2:16:14 2. Tokyo 24
Degitu Azimeraw ETH 2:17:58 2. London 21
Dera Dida ETH 2:18:32 2. Dubai 25
Mestawut Fikir ETH 2:18:48 2. Berlin 24
Tigist Girma ETH 2:18:52 7. Valencia 22
Honami Maeda JPN 2:18:59 2. Osaka 24
Sharon Chelimo KEN 2:19:33 1. Barcelona 25
Aberu Ayana ETH 2:20:20 4. Berlin 24
Azmera Gebru ETH 2:20:48 3. Amsterdam 19
Kidsan Alema ETH 2:22:28 6. Sevilla 22
Violah Cheptoo KEN 2:22:44 2. New York 21
Betty Chepkwony KEN 2:23:02 1. Rom 23
Domenika Mayer GER 2:23:47 14. Berlin 23
Deborah Schöneborn GER 2:24:54 4. Houston 24
Aberash Demisse ETH 2:25:43 10. Frankfurt 24
Fabienne Königstein GER 2:25:48 8. Hamburg 23
Aleksandra Lisowska POL 2:25:52 28. Valencia 23
Samantha Harrison GBR 2:25:59 11. London 23
Irvette Van Zyl RSA 2:26:11 16. Valencia 22
Hanne Verbruggen BEL 2:26:32 7. Sevilla 23
Melina Wolf GER 2:27:34 18. Berlin 24
Jill Holterman NED 2:28:18 6. Enschede 21
Samrawit Mengsteab SWE 2:28:44 9. Hamburg 25
Hanna Lindholm SWE 2:28:59 11. Sevilla 20
Katja Goldring USA 2:29:01 5. Sacramento 22
Ftaw Zeray ETH 2:29:15 1. Hefei 19
Lemlem Hailu ETH Debut
Fantu Worku ETH Debut
Girmawit Gebrzihair ETH Debut
Amy-Eloise Neale GBR Debut

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