BERLIN

Tigst Assefa and Guye Adola completed an Ethiopian double at the BMW Berlin Marathon on Sunday, with Assefa producing one of the fastest women’s performances ever and Adola returning to familiar ground for another major victory.

Assefa won the women’s race in 2 hours, 11 minutes, 4 seconds, the third-fastest marathon time in history, despite slowing dramatically in the closing stages after appearing to suffer a physical problem. The performance gave her a third Berlin title and improved the personal best and course record of 2:11:53 she set in 2023.

The Ethiopian had been on pace to challenge the world record of 2:09:56 deep into the race. She passed 5 kilometers in 15:30, 10 kilometers in 30:48 and halfway in 1:04:57, the third-fastest halfway split recorded in a women’s marathon.

Assefa continued to press the pace, reaching 30 kilometers in 1:32:15 and 35 kilometers in 1:47:32. At 40 kilometers, she was still projected to finish inside 2:10 after a string of remarkably consistent 10-kilometer sections.

Her stride changed soon after, however, and she began limping while visibly grimacing. With a lead of more than five minutes, she had enough time to hold on and crossed the line clear of a strong Ethiopian chase.

Bedatu Hirpa was second in 2:16:53, two seconds ahead of Dera Dida. Bekelech Gudeta placed fourth in 2:18:58 and Alemitu Tariku was fifth in 2:19:01, giving Ethiopia the top five places in the women’s race.

Adola won the men’s race in 2:02:50, taking nearly a minute off the personal best he set in Berlin in 2017, when he finished second to Eliud Kipchoge.

The lead group stayed together through halfway in 1:01:01 before Adola took control after 30 kilometers. He pulled away over the final stages to secure his second Berlin title, following his 2021 win.

Gemechu Dida finished second in 2:03:19 to complete Ethiopia’s sweep of the top two men’s spots, while Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay was third in 2:03:59.