Tigst Assefa misses women’s world record at Berlin Marathon

On September 27th, 2026, Ethiopian runner Guye Adola emerged victorious in the BMW Berlin Marathon, completing the 42 kilometers (26 miles) in a personal best time of 2:02:51 hours. His fellow countryman Dida secured the second place with a time of 2:03:17 hours. Adola's prize includes a substantial sum of 40,000 Euro, with a potential bonus for his impressive speed.

Tigst Assefa, also from Ethiopia, entered the race with the goal of setting a new world record. Although she finished with an excellent time of 2:11:04 hours, she fell short of this ambitious target by approximately a minute.

The race, held on a sunny fall day, was well-attended by tens of thousands of spectators. Among them were off-duty officer Anna Langerwisch, who set the fastest time among German women at 2:27:31 hours, and Haftom Welday, who claimed the fastest time among German men with a finishing time of 2:08:25 hours.

The event unfolded peacefully, with no reports of violence or protests. The city's police force, comprising over 1,800 officers, ensured a secure environment. At each major intersection, police presence was evident. At the finish line at Brandenburg Gate, the victorious runners were greeted and honored, with interviews granted by television channels and trophies awarded.