Ethiopia showcased its dominance at Sunday’s Berlin Marathon, securing victories in both the men's and women's races, with Ethiopian runners claiming five out of six podium positions. Milkesa Mengesha, 24, triumphed in the men’s event, narrowly defeating Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut by just five seconds. Mengesha’s finishing time was two hours, three minutes, and 17 seconds, as he pulled away in the final stretch. In third place was fellow Ethiopian Haymanot Alew, further emphasizing Ethiopia's strength in the marathon.
In the women’s race, 26-year-old Tigist Ketema emerged victorious, clocking in at two hours, 16 minutes, and 42 seconds. She finished more than two minutes ahead of her compatriots Mestawot Fikir and Bosena Mulatie. Although Ketema's time was five minutes slower than the women's world record set by Tigist Assefa at last year's marathon, it remains the third-fastest in the event’s history. Great Britain’s Calli Hauger-Thackery was the first European to cross the finish line, securing seventh place with a time of 2:21:24, marking it as one of the fastest marathon performances by a British woman.
The marathon, now in its 50th year, saw several notable absences, including Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, a five-time winner and previous record-holder who triumphed in 2022. In the men’s wheelchair race, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug clinched victory in one hour, 27 minutes, and 18 seconds, with Great Britain's David Weir finishing second, one minute and 47 seconds behind. Despite the absence of some major names, the event continued to showcase exceptional talent and competitive spirit.
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