The Ethiopian Guye Adola has taken the Berlin Marathon title with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 50 seconds, which was not officially timed. This marks the 35-year-old athlete’s second triumph in the German capital, following his earlier win in 2021.
Sunday dawned with autumn sunshine and little wind, which made for near-perfect conditions, though it remained warm. The start times were brought forward because of high temperatures in last year’s marathon.
Adola’s Performance
The winner of the race was Adola, who ran the fastest time of the day. Diriba came in second, trailing the champion by 28 seconds. Geay, representing Tanzania, rounded out the top three with a third-place finish.
Assefa’s World Record Bid
Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia was on course to set a world record in the women’s race. It would be the 14th time the women’s world record has been set in Berlin.
The Warm Conditions
Autumn sunshine and light winds produced almost ideal conditions for the race. The heat still mattered, however, even as the combination favored fast running.
Organizers responded to the weather by moving up the starting time from last year’s hot marathon.
Adola’s First Berlin Win
Adola’s victory comes on the heels of his 2021 triumph in Berlin. The win adds to his resume and keeps him among the elite men’s marathon runners.
The mark he posted was not officially recorded, so it must be formally confirmed before it can count as an official result.
The Podium Order
Here is how the top three finished:
- Guye Adola — 2:02:50 (unofficial)
- Gemechu Dida Diriba — 28 seconds behind
- Gabriel Gerald Geay
The Women’s Record Chase
Assefa’s bid for the women’s world record was the other major storyline of the day. The 14th record in Berlin would extend a remarkable run for the city’s women’s marathon.
The Weather Adjustment
Sunday’s start times were moved up due to high temperatures from last year’s marathon. Organizers made the change by adjusting the schedule in advance.
What Comes Next
Adola’s time will need official verification before it stands as an official mark. Assefa’s bid for the women’s world record will also be reviewed.
The day is currently Adola’s, and the women’s record chase is still up for grabs.
See the a run of 14 images at Yahoo Sports.
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