Ethiopia Triumphs in Berlin Marathon Sweep

The 50th Berlin Marathon was marked by an Ethiopian triumph on Sunday as athletes from the East African nation dominated both the men's and women's races, securing five of the six podium spots.

Milkesa Mengesha, 24, captured the men's title with a dramatic sprint finish, clocking in at two hours, three minutes, and 17 seconds. Mengesha managed to outpace Kenya's Cybrian Kotut by a slim five-second margin after a tense neck-and-neck race that was decided in the final stretch. Ethiopia's Haymanot Alew secured third, showcasing the strength and depth of Ethiopian distance running.

In the women's event, 26-year-old Tigist Ketema delivered a commanding performance, crossing the finish line in two hours, 16 minutes, and 42 seconds. This time put her over two minutes ahead of fellow Ethiopians Mestawot Fikir and Bosena Mulatie, who rounded off the all-Ethiopian podium. While Ketema's time was five minutes shy of the women’s world record set by compatriot Tigist Assefa last year (2:11:53), it still marked the third-fastest result in the event’s history.

Great Britain’s Calli Hauger-Thackery, 31, was the top European finisher, taking seventh place. Her impressive run, clocking in at 2:21:24, was the sixth-fastest marathon by a British woman, underscoring her growing presence in the international marathon circuit.

In the men's wheelchair race, Switzerland's Olympic champion Marcel Hug claimed victory with a time of one hour, 27 minutes, and 18 seconds. British veteran David Weir, 45, fought hard to finish second, trailing Hug by one minute and 47 seconds.

This year’s Berlin Marathon featured some notable absences, particularly as it came just over a month after the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. Among those missing was Kenya's legendary Eliud Kipchoge, the five-time Berlin winner who set a then-world record of 2:01:09 in 2022. Despite the absence of some major names, the event lived up to its reputation, providing spectators with thrilling moments and a celebration of world-class running talent.

As Ethiopia’s athletes commanded the streets of Berlin, their performance once again highlighted the country’s unparalleled legacy in distance running—a fitting tribute to the race’s 50th anniversary.