Tigst Assefa and Guye Adola give Ethiopia a Berlin Marathon double
Assefa ran a course-record 2:11:04 and Adola won in 2:02:50 as Ethiopian runners took both elite titles in Berlin on September 27, 2026.
In short
- Assefa ran a course-record 2:11:04 and Adola won in 2:02:50 as Ethiopian runners took both elite titles in Berlin on September 27, 2026.
Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa and Guye Adola won the women’s and men’s races at the Berlin Marathon on September 27, 2026, delivering a double victory confirmed by the race organiser after Fana reported the results.
Assefa finished in 2:11:04, improving her own course record of 2:11:53 from 2023. Bedatu Hirpa took second in 2:16:53 and Dera Dida third in 2:16:55, completing an Ethiopian sweep of the women’s podium.
The organiser said Assefa had been on world-record pace before a problem with her right leg slowed her near the 40-kilometre mark. She nevertheless secured her third Berlin victory, following wins in 2022 and 2023.
Adola crossed the line in 2:02:50 for his second Berlin title, having also won in 2021. Ethiopia’s Gemechu Diriba finished second in 2:03:19, ahead of Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay in 2:03:59.
The results put Ethiopian runners in five of the six podium positions across the two elite races. Times and finishing positions are from the [organiser’s September 27 race report](https://www.bmw-berlin-marathon.com/news-medien/news/detail/grossartige-leistungen-beim-bmw-berlin-marathon-2026).
