Ethiopia Dominates Berlin as Assefa’s World Record Bid Fades Late

Ethiopia dominated the 2026 Berlin Marathon on Sunday, with Tigist Assefa claiming her third women’s title as Kenya endured a difficult outing in the German capital.

Assefa clocked a personal best of 2:11:04, but what looked set to become a historic world-record run slipped away in the final two kilometres as the Ethiopian superstar appeared to struggle physically after an apparent injury derailed her attempt.

Despite the late setback, Assefa secured her third Berlin Marathon victory, adding to her 2022 and 2023 wins. It was also her third marathon victory in her last four starts.

Ethiopia swept the top five in the women’s race, underscoring their dominance over the distance.

Kenya’s Pascaline Jelagat was the best-placed Kenyan woman, finishing sixth in 2:20:23, well behind the Ethiopian front-runners.

In the men’s race, Assefa’s training partner Guye Adola completed an Ethiopian double after winning in a personal best of 2:02:50.

The victory marked Adola’s second Berlin Marathon title, coming five years after his first triumph. 

Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay claimed third in 2:03:59, while Kenya failed to place a runner inside the men’s top 10.

For Assefa, the result was a mixture of triumph and what might have been. She walked away with another Berlin title and a new personal best, but the world record that appeared within reach at 40km ultimately proved just beyond her grasp.

Leading results

Women
1 Tigst Assefa (ETH) 2:11:04
2 Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) 2:16:53
3 Dera Dida (ETH) 2:16:55
4 Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:18:58
5 Alemitu Tariku (ETH) 2:19:01
6 Pascaline Jelagat (KEN) 2:20:23
7 Misgane Alemayehu (ETH) 2:20:27
8 Ludwina Chepngetich (KEN) 2:21:25
9 Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:21:32
10 Aminet Ahmed (ETH) 2:21:45

Men
1 Guye Adola (ETH) 2:02:50
2 Gemechu Dida (ETH) 2:03:19
3 Gabriel Geay (TAN) 2:03:59
4 Getaneh Molla (ETH) 2:04:55
5 Selemon Barega (ETH) 2:04:58
6 Asefa Boki (ETH) 2:05:32
7 Andamlak Belihu (ETH) 2:05:55
8 Shura Kitata (ETH) 2:06:04
9 Yuhei Urano (JPN) 2:06:09
10 Tadu Abate (ETH) 2:07:16