Ethiopian Berlin Marathon Sweep
Ethiopia Sweeps Elite Berlin Marathon Titles as Tigst Assefa Overcomes Late Injury
Anonymous
Ethiopia swept the elite titles at the 2026 Berlin Marathon, with Guye Adola winning the men’s race in about 2:02:50 and Tigst Assefa taking the women’s race in 2:11:04. Adola earned his second Berlin victory, finishing ahead of compatriot Gemechu Dida Diriba and Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay. Assefa was on pace to challenge the women’s world record but suffered a leg injury in the closing kilometers and limped to the finish, ending her record bid. World-record holder Sabastian Sawe missed the race because of injury.
Key Points
1
Adola’s 2:02:50 was the 11th-fastest marathon time in history, but it remained outside the Berlin course record of 2:01:09, set by Eliud Kipchoge in 2022.
2
Assefa claimed her third Berlin title, having also won in 2022 and 2023; before her injury, she had built a lead of more than five minutes.
3
Adola entered the race after winning the Rotterdam Marathon earlier in the year in 2:03:54; he had also finished second in Berlin in 2017 behind Eliud Kipchoge.
4
Organizers moved the start times earlier than usual following the high temperatures during the previous year’s marathon. Race-day conditions featured autumn sunshine and little wind, though it was still warm.
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