SportsPosted at: Sep 27 2026 5:48PM


Assefa, Adola seal Ethiopian double at Berlin Marathon

Berlin, Sep 27 (UNI) 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, according to Xinhua.
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.
UNI BM
Tags: #Assefa# Adola seal Ethiopian double at Berlin Marathon
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