BMW BERLIN MARATHON: Sabastian Sawe ready to challenge Kipchoge’s course record

Posted by: Watch Athletics

Saturday, 20 September 2025

Kenya’s newest marathon star Sabastian Sawe will make his BMW BERLIN-MARATHON debut on Sunday, aiming to extend his meteoric rise on the classic distance. Victorious in his first two marathons, the 30-year-old enters Berlin as the favorite, though a deep and talented field awaits. Among his chief rivals is defending champion Milkesa Mengesha of Ethiopia. In total, ten men on the start list boast personal bests under 2:05:00—a depth never before seen in Berlin.

With over 55,000 runners from 160 nations, the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will once again rank among the world’s largest and most prestigious races.

The central question is whether Sawe can follow in the footsteps of Eliud Kipchoge, who has defined Berlin’s modern marathon legacy with five victories and two world records: 2:01:39 in 2018 and 2:01:09 in 2022. Sawe has made no secret of his ambition to attack Kipchoge’s course record, and perhaps even the world record of 2:00:35, depending on race conditions.

“I am in good shape. Berlin has the fastest course, so I want to run fast here,“ said Sawe, who clocked 2:02:05 in his debut at Valencia last December—the fifth-fastest performance in history. He followed up with victory in April’s London Marathon in 2:02:27, the world’s fastest time of 2024. Berlin also holds special significance for him: in 2023 he won the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. His Italian coach Claudio Berardelli and manager Eric Lilot both confirm that Sawe arrives in outstanding condition. The only potential obstacle could be the weather, with forecasts predicting relatively warm temperatures between 19 and 21°C.

Last year Mengesha shocked the field by winning Berlin’s 50th anniversary edition in a personal best of 2:03:17. Now 25, he feels ready to run even faster. “I am better prepared than I was a year ago and hope to run quicker,“ he said.

Another strong contender is Gabriel Geay, who owns the Tanzanian national record of 2:03:00. “I am happy to have the chance to compete in Berlin. I think I can run a personal best,“ Geay commented. Japan’s Kengo Suzuki is also targeting his national record of 2:04:56.

Berlin’s reputation as the world’s fastest marathon remains unmatched. The ranking is calculated by averaging the ten fastest times ever recorded in each race. Since 2006, Berlin has topped the list with an extraordinary 2:02:33.8.

German contenders eye sub-2:07 barrier

Germany’s top men are also ready to make headlines. Hendrik Pfeiffer returns in career-best form after setting two personal bests this summer: winning Berlin’s adidas Runners City Night 10k in 28:27 and running 61:28 for the half marathon in Larne. “My training was excellent, without any setbacks. I am in the best shape of my life. My goal is to run under 2:07:00,“ said Pfeiffer, who ranks fourth on Germany’s all-time list with 2:07:14.

Sebastian Hendel, representing Marathon Team Berlin, emerged as the top German last year with a breakthrough 2:07:33. “I trained well this summer. Of course, it depends a bit on the weather, but I feel optimistic to run a personal best and go under 2:07:00,“ said the 29-year-old, currently fifth on the German all-time list.

Haftom Welday, also from Marathon Team Berlin, enters with a best of 2:08:24 and shares similar ambitions. “I am well prepared, hoping for a steady race and a time under 2:07:00,“ he said. Teammate Johannes Motschmann, who has run 2:10:39, will also look to improve.

With Sawe chasing history, Mengesha and Geay in peak condition, and Germany’s top trio pushing their limits, the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON promises another chapter of fast times and unforgettable performances.

Elite Men for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:

Sabastian Sawe KEN 2:02:05 1. Valencia 24
Gabriel Geay TAN 2:03:00 2. Valencia 22
Milkesa Mengesha ETH 2:03:17 1. Berlin 24
Haymanot Alew ETH 2:03:31 3. Berlin 24
Guye Adola ETH 2:03:46 2. Berlin 17
Leul Gebresilase ETH 2:04:02 2. Dubai 18
Daniel Mateiko KEN 2:04:24 3. Valencia 24
Haftu Teklu ETH 2:04:42 5. Berlin 23
Chimdessa Debele ETH 2:04:44 6. Valencia 24
Kengo Suzuki JPN 2:04:56 1. Otsu 21
Chala Regasa ETH 2:05:06 2. Rotterdam 25
Samwel Mailu KEN 2:05:08 1. Wien 23
Yihunilign Adane ETH 2:05:37 1. Osaka 25
Tariku Novales ESP 2:05:48 11. Valencia 23
Kyohei Hosoya JPN 2:05:58 4. Osaka 25
Yuhei Urano JPN 2:06:23 13. Tokyo 25
Shuho Dairokuno JPN 2:07:12 6. Otsu 21
Hendrik Pfeiffer GER 2:07:14 3. Houston 24
Ezra Tanui KEN 2:07:28 1. Doha 25
Bernard Kimani KEN 2:07:28 10. Osaka
Hassan Chahdi FRA 2:07:30 5. London 24
Akira Akasaki JPN 2:07:32 6. Paris OG 24
Sebastian Hendel GER 2:07:33 17. Berlin 24
Shin Kimura JPN 2:07:34 11. Tokyo 20
Robert Ngeno KEN 2:07:35 1. Rom 25
Hicham Amghar MAR 2:07:45 4. Dongying 24
Haftom Welday GER 2:08:24 30. Valencia 23
Ken Nakayama JPN 2:08:24 20. Tokyo 25
Taiyo Iwasaki JPN 2:08:25 20. Osaka 25
Aoi Ota JPN 2:08:31 2. Gold Coast 25
Tachlowini Gabriyesos ART 2:09:00 19. Sevilla 23
Gao Peng CHN 2:09:34 8. Peking 23
Jin Yuasa JPN 2:09:43 1. Nobeoka
Paulo Paula BRA 2:09:51 19. Sevilla 22
George James GBR 2:10:02 5. Leuven 25
Peter Herzog AUT 2:10:06 12. London 20
Wang Wenjie CHN 2:10:23 5. Peking 24
Johannes Motschmann GER 2:10:39 9. London 24
Lemawork Ketema AUT 2:10:44 11. Vienna 19