BMW Berlin Marathon 2026 Final Elite Fields Published
The BMW Berlin Marathon on 27 September will bring together exceptionally deep elite fields, led by former world record-holder Tigst Assefa and a host of athletes with world-class personal bests. The women’s race has been further strengthened by European champion Alisa Vainio, while Gabriel Geay, Getaneh Molla, Guye Adola and Shura Kitata are among the leading contenders in the men’s field. Adding even greater prestige to the start list, Ethiopian distance-running legend and two-time Berlin champion Kenenisa Bekele has also confirmed his return to the German capital. See the full full elite fields below.
Men’s elite field
Seven men on the Berlin start list have personal bests under 2:05:00, while approximately 30 entrants have broken 2:08:00.
Following the injury withdrawal of Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe, Ethiopia’s Guye Adola, Getaneh Molla and Shura Kitata are among the leading contenders.
Adola has an impressive history in Berlin. He ran 2:03:46 on his marathon debut to finish second behind Eliud Kipchoge in 2017 before returning to win the race in 2:05:45 four years later. The Ethiopian arrives in strong form after winning the Rotterdam Marathon in 2:03:54 this spring.
Molla owns a personal best of 2:03:34, while Kitata improved to 2:03:59 earlier this year. Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega could also challenge for a leading position as he looks to improve on his marathon best of 2:05:00.
Kenenisa Bekele will add further prestige to the field as the Ethiopian legend returns to a race he has won twice. Bekele clocked 2:03:03 in Berlin in 2016 before narrowly missing the world record with his 2:01:41 victory in 2019. Now 44, the former Olympic champion and long-time 5,000m and 10,000m world record-holder may not begin among the leading favourites, but he remains capable of producing another strong performance on the course where he has enjoyed some of his greatest marathon success.
The field also includes 14 Japanese athletes with personal bests between approximately 2:06 and 2:08, providing considerable depth and potentially creating strong pacing groups for those targeting national or personal records.
Sebastian Hendel is the fastest German entrant with the 2:07:33 he ran in Berlin two years ago. He will be joined by Haftom Welday, who improved to 2:08:13 in Barcelona in March, marathon newcomer Aaron Bienenfeld and Johannes Motschmann.
Bienenfeld made an impressive debut in Hamburg in April, clocking 2:08:47—the fastest marathon debut ever achieved by a German athlete. Motschmann, meanwhile, will renew his attempt to break 2:10:00 after recording a best of 2:10:39.
Women’s elite field
Tigst Assefa is the clear headline name in the women’s race as she returns to the course where she produced two sensational victories.
The Ethiopian improved by almost 20 minutes to win the 2022 race in 2:15:37 before breaking the world record with 2:11:53 the following year. The Olympic silver medallist and two-time London Marathon champion now returns to Berlin aiming to challenge the overall world record of 2:09:56.
Defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru is expected to provide Assefa’s strongest opposition. The Kenyan finished second on her Berlin debut in 2022 with 2:18:00 and returned to win last year’s race in difficult, hot conditions. Her personal best of 2:16:14 makes her the second-fastest woman in the field.
Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa, Dera Dida and Zeineba Yimer add further strength. Hirpa has won the Dubai and Paris marathons and owns a best of 2:18:27, while Dida has run 2:18:32 and narrowly missed victory in Berlin last year. Yimer lowered her best to 2:18:47 when finishing third in Barcelona in March.
European champion Alisa Vainio is another notable late addition. The Finnish runner won the European title in a championship record of 2:22:26 and set a national record of 2:20:39 with her victory in Seville earlier this year.
In total, eight women in the field have broken 2:20:00, with another eight holding personal bests under 2:23:00.
Esther Pfeiffer carries Germany’s leading hopes. The 28-year-old will contest only her second marathon after winning her 2023 debut in Cologne in 2:37:00. Since then, she has improved considerably over shorter distances, including a 1:07:25 half marathon in Berlin in March. Her recent development suggests she could challenge one of the fastest marathon times ever achieved by a German woman.
Elite Fields
Men
| Athlete | Country | Personal best |
|---|---|---|
| Kenenisa Bekele | ETH | 2:01:41 |
| Gabriel Geay | TAN | 2:03:00 |
| Getaneh Molla | ETH | 2:03:34 |
| Guye Adola | ETH | 2:03:46 |
| Shura Kitata | ETH | 2:03:59 |
| Erick Sang | KEN | 2:04:30 |
| Selemon Barega | ETH | 2:05:00 |
| Taresa Tolosa | ETH | 2:05:17 |
| Tadu Abate | ETH | 2:05:38 |
| Asefa Boki | ETH | 2:05:40 |
| Kenya Sonota | JPN | 2:05:59 |
| Tsubasa Ichiyama | JPN | 2:06:00 |
| Kiyoto Hirabayashi | JPN | 2:06:14 |
| Yuhei Urano | JPN | 2:06:23 |
| Hidekazu Hijikata | JPN | 2:06:26 |
Women
| Athlete | Country | Personal best |
|---|---|---|
| Tigst Assefa | ETH | 2:11:53 |
| Rosemary Wanjiru | KEN | 2:16:14 |
| Bedatu Hirpa | ETH | 2:18:27 |
| Dera Dida | ETH | 2:18:32 |
| Zeineba Yimer | ETH | 2:18:47 |
| Misgane Alemayehu | ETH | 2:19:08 |
| Bekelech Gudeta | ETH | 2:19:39 |
| Evaline Chirchir | KEN | 2:20:33 |
| Alisa Vainio | FIN | 2:20:39 |
| Deshun Zhang | CHN | 2:20:53 |
| Eebbisee Addunyaa | ETH | 2:21:13 |
| Aminet Ahmed | ETH | 2:21:24 |
| Rika Kaseda | JPN | 2:21:55 |
| Mao Uesugi | JPN | 2:22:11 |
| Pascaline Jelagat | KEN | 2:22:44 |
| Manon Trapp | FRA | 2:23:38 |
| Natsuki Omori | JPN | 2:23:45 |
| Fatima Gardadi | MAR | 2:24:06 |
| Laura Hottenrott | GER | 2:24:32 |
| Kristina Hendel | GER | 2:27:29 |
| Anna Langerwisch | GER | 2:32:13 |
| Thea Heim | GER | 2:33:25 |
| Esther Pfeiffer | GER | 2:37:00 |
