Berlin Marathon 2026: Ethiopia wins both races as Kenya misses the podium
Guye Adola won the men's race and Tigst Assefa broke her own course record. Ethiopians filled the top five women's places, and no Kenyan made the top three in either race.
In short: Ethiopia won both races at the Berlin Marathon on 27 September 2026. Guye Adola took the men's race in 2:02:50 and Tigst Assefa the women's race in a course record 2:11:04. Ethiopians filled the top five women's places and the top two men's places, with Tanzania's Gabriel Geay third. Pascaline Jelagat was the best Kenyan, sixth in the women's race.
Berlin was a letdown for Kenya. On Sunday 27 September, Ethiopia won both races. Ethiopians took the first five places in the women's race and eight of the top ten in the men's race. No Kenyan finished in the top three of either race, and no Kenyan man made the top ten.
Men: Adola's second Berlin title
Guye Adola broke away from a tightly packed lead group after 30km. He reached 35km in 1:41:18, nine seconds clear of compatriot Gemechu Dida, and won in 2:02:50. It was his second Berlin title after 2021, and faster than both his earlier runs here: he was second on his marathon debut in 2017 in 2:03:46, behind Eliud Kipchoge. Adola also won the Rotterdam Marathon in April.
| Pos | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guye Adola (ETH) | 2:02:50 |
| 2 | Gemechu Dida (ETH) | 2:03:19 |
| 3 | Gabriel Geay (TAN) | 2:03:59 |
| 4 | Getaneh Molla (ETH) | 2:04:55 |
| 5 | Selemon Barega (ETH) | 2:04:58 |
Kenya's best-known name was missing. Sabastian Sawe, the defending champion, withdrew injured before the race, according to K24.
Women: Assefa lowers her own course record
Tigst Assefa ran on world-record pace for most of the race before slowing in the closing kilometres. She still won in 2:11:04, taking 49 seconds off the course record of 2:11:53 she set in 2023. The world record remains 2:09:56.
| Pos | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tigst Assefa (ETH) | 2:11:04 |
| 2 | Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) | 2:16:53 |
| 3 | Dera Dida (ETH) | 2:16:55 |
| 4 | Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) | 2:18:58 |
| 5 | Alemitu Tariku (ETH) | 2:19:01 |
| 6 | Pascaline Jelagat (KEN) | 2:20:23 |
| 8 | Ludwina Chepngetich (KEN) | 2:21:25 |
| 9 | Evaline Chirchir (KEN) | 2:21:32 |
Three Kenyan women finished in the top ten: Pascaline Jelagat in sixth, Ludwina Chepngetich in eighth and Evaline Chirchir in ninth. Rosemary Wanjiru, who won here in 2025, was not among the top ten.
What comes next
Kenya's next chance at a major marathon is Chicago on Sunday 11 October, where Amos Kipruto, Brigid Kosgei and Sharon Lokedi lead the Kenyan fields. Read our Chicago preview.