Tigst Assefa narrowly missed the world record at the Berlin Marathon

Ethiopian Tigst Assefa narrowly missed the world record at the marathon in Berlin after a dramatic finish. The African suddenly had to deal with cramps in the last kilometer but still ran the course record in 2:11:04 hours and the third fastest time in history.

However, she missed the world record set by Ruth Chepngetich, who crossed the finish line in Chicago in 2024 after 2:09:56 hours. The Kenyan is currently banned due to a positive doping test. But your world record stands - even after the 52nd Berlin Marathon.

“It's bitter, but it's just a marathon. Marathon has its own rules. It's really only at the finish that the decision is made. I think it was her muscles that closed down. She will only be able to be happy about her best time in two, three, four days," said RTL expert Sabrina Mockenhaupt about the winner's suffering.

Third victory in Berlin after 2022 and 2023

Assefa repeated her triumph from 2022 and 2023. Three years ago she ran a world record of 2:11:53 hours. Then Chepngetich took the record from her.

“I am very well prepared and want to beat my best time,” Assefa said before the run. According to the World Athletics Association, the 29-year-old was aiming for the world record in Berlin - and for a long time it looked like she would on the streets of Berlin.

Assefa keeps the pace constantly high

In almost optimal conditions in the capital, Assefa, driven by several pacemakers and tens of thousands of fans along the route, ran a lonely women's race from the start. However, the Olympic silver medalist in Paris and World Cup runner-up in Tokyo started a little slower than Chepngetich when she set her world record in Chicago.

But Assefa kept the pace consistently high in the second half of the marathon. When the African was on course for a world record, she suddenly had to struggle with pain.

Pfeiffer has to give up early

Esther Pfeiffer, who wanted to break Irina Mikitenko's German record from 2008 (2:19:19 hours), had a bitter day. She had to give up after around 15 kilometers in the second marathon of her career.

In the men's race, Guye Adola from Ethiopia won in 2:02:51 hours after world record holder Sabastian Sawe withdrew due to injury. The fastest German marathon runners around European champion Amanal Petros did not start in Berlin.