Ethiopian runners dominated both the men’s and women’s races at the 50th Berlin Marathon on Sunday, with Tigist Ketema and Milkesa Mengesha taking home the titles. Ketema, 26, claimed her second win of the year, finishing in 2:16:42, while Mengesha, 24, crossed the line in 2:03:17.
Although marathon legends Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele were missing from the Berlin lineup for the first time in nearly a decade, the race didn’t lack excitement. Ketema clocked the third-fastest time ever in the women’s race, and Mengesha triumphed in a tightly contested men’s finish.
A spectacular setting, a spectacular race. Berlin has put on one heck of a show again. #AbbottWMM #BerlinMarathon2024 pic.twitter.com/emT2PVZeS0
— Abbott WMMajors (@WMMajors) September 29, 2024
Ethiopian women sweep the podium
Ketema took control early in what is only her second career marathon, after winning the 2024 Dubai Marathon in 2:16:07, where she clocked the second-fastest time in the year so far. Her time of 2:16:07 was the fastest women’s debut marathon ever, placing her ninth all-time in women’s marathon history and fifth among Ethiopian women. Ketema dominated the women’s race from the start, and outdistanced the runner-up, compatriot Mestawot Fikir, by more than two minutes. Fikir crossed the line in 2:18:48, with Bosena Mulatie, also of Ethiopia, following in 2:19:00.
Before her marathon success, Ketema was a standout on the track, earning a bronze medal in the 800m at the 2016 World Junior Championships; in June of 2023 she acted as a pacemaker for Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon as she broke the world 5000m record at the Paris Diamond Leauge. Ketema now trains alongside fellow Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa, the 2023 Berlin Marathon world record holder.
Top 10 women
Tigist Ketema (Ethiopia) 2:16:42
Mestawot Fikir (Ethiopia) 2:18:48
Bosena Mulatie (Ethiopia) 2:19:00
Ayana Aberu Mulisa (Ethiopia) 2:20:20.
Ai Hosoda (Japan) 2:20:31.
Mizuki Matsuda (Japan) 2:20:42.
Calli Hauger-Thackery (Great Britain) 2:21:24.
Yebregual Melese (Ethiopia) 2:21:39.
Fikrte Wereta (Ethiopia) 2:23:23.
Meseret Sisay Gola (Ethiopia) 2:23:36.
Mengesha’s narrow victory
On the men’s side, 24-year-old Mengesha claimed victory in a thrilling race, edging out Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut by just five seconds in the closest Berlin Marathon finish in over a decade. Kotut crossed the line in 2:03:22, narrowly holding off Ethiopia’s Haymanot Alew, who finished in 2:03:31. The race started with a blistering pace, as the lead pack clocked 14:25 for the first 5K—faster than Kelvin Kiptum’s opening 5K split during his 2:00:25 world marathon record in Chicago last year. Although the pace slowed in the second half, the pack stayed tightly grouped until the final 5K, when the top three runners battled for the podium.
Mengesha, the 2019 World Junior Cross-Country champion, secured his second marathon win after his 2023 Daegu Marathon victory. Initially set to race in Chicago, he chose Berlin for its fast course and mild weather, a decision that paid off as he shaved more than two minutes off his previous best time of 2:05:29.
Top 10 men
Milkesa Mengesha (Ethiopia) 2:03:17
Cybrian Kotut (Kenya) 2:03:22e
Haymanot Alew (Ethiopia): 2:03:31
Stephen Kiprop (Kenya) 2:03:37
Hailemariyam Kiros (Ethiopia) 2:04:35
Yohei Ikeda (Japan) 2:05:12
Tadese Takele (Ethiopia) 02:05:13
Oqbe Kibrom Ruesom (Eritrea) 2:05:37
Enock Onchari (Kenya) 2:05:53
Derseh Kindie Kassie (Ethiopia) 2:05:54
There were no Canadian men or women in the 2024 Berlin Marathon elite field. To see full results, head here.
