Participants compete during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
BERLIN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tigst Assefa and Guye Adola secured an Ethiopian double at the 52nd Berlin Marathon on Sunday, with Assefa winning the women's race in a course-record 2 hours, 11 minutes, 4 seconds after her world-record bid unraveled in the closing stages.
The 29-year-old had targeted Ruth Chepngetich's world record of 2:09:56, set by the Kenyan in Chicago in 2024, and remained on pace to challenge the mark until late in the race.
Supported by several pacemakers, Assefa quickly pulled clear of her rivals and built a commanding advantage. Although she started more cautiously than Chepngetich had during her record run, the Ethiopian maintained a strong pace through the second half and was still inside world-record pace at the 40-kilometer mark.
Her challenge ended shortly before the finish as physical problems forced her to slow sharply. Assefa nevertheless crossed the line in 2:11:04, lowering the Berlin course record and recording the third-fastest women's marathon time in history.
It was her third victory in the German capital following wins in 2022 and 2023. Her 2:11:53 performance in Berlin in 2023 was a world record before Chepngetich lowered the mark in Chicago the following year.
Ethiopia swept the women's podium, with Bedatu Hirpa finishing second in 2:16:53 and Dera Dida taking third in 2:16:55.
Adola completed Ethiopia's double by winning the men's race in a personal-best 2:02:50. The 35-year-old, the oldest athlete in the men's elite field, claimed his second Berlin Marathon title after previously winning in 2021.
Fellow Ethiopian Gemechu Dida Diriba finished second in 2:03:19, while Tanzania's Gabriel Gerald Geay was third in 2:03:59.
Haftom Welday was the fastest German man, finishing in 2:08:25. In the women's race, Esther Pfeiffer abandoned her attempt to challenge the German record before the 15-kilometer mark.
A total of 56,187 runners registered for the 42.195-kilometer race. The elite field started in temperatures of around 13 degrees Celsius and near-ideal running conditions. ■
Participants compete during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Participants compete during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Participants compete during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Bedatu Hirpa of Ethiopia celebrates after crossing the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Dera Dida of Ethiopia reacts after crossing the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Bedatu Hirpa of Ethiopia crosses the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Participants compete during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Wu Xiangdong of China celebrates after crossing the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Guye Adola of Ethiopia crosses the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Participants compete during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Medals are seen during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia runs to the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia crosses the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Guye Adola (L) of Ethiopia celebrates with retired runner Haile Gebrselassie during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Gemechu Dida Diriba of Ethiopia crosses the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Gabriel Gerald Geay of Tanzania runs to the finish line during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
Participants compete during the Berlin Marathon 2026 in Berlin, capital of Germany, Sept. 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)
