Ethiopians dominated the 50th edition of Berlin Marathon today as Milkesa Mengesha won the men’s race and Tigist Ketema claimed victory in the women’s event.
Mengesha, 24, ran a personal best, clocking (02:03:17) ahead of Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut with (02:03:22) and third came a fellow Ethiopian Haymanot Alew (02:03:31).
The pre-race favourite was Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele, with five-times winner Eliud Kipchoge not competing. Takele finished seventh.
The women’s podium was all-Ethiopian, Ketema’s time of 2:16:42 seeing her cross the finish line more than two minutes ahead of Mestawot Fikir and Bosena Mulatie.
Mengesha crossing the line.
Ketema, 26 opened up a sizeable lead in the first half of the run and clinched victory in the third-fastest time ever run in the event.
“I’m very grateful to be in Berlin. I am very happy and with the help of God I was able to win this race,” Ketema said.
Ketema’s time was however five minutes slower than Tigst Assefa’s winning time of 2:11:53 in 2023, which is the women’s marathon world record.
Ketema celebrating her win.
A number of big names were missing in the Berlin race held just over a month after the end of the Paris Olympics.