Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist Ketema Secure Historic Ethiopian Double at 50th Berlin Marathon

Ethiopian distance running reasserted its global dominance on Sunday morning as Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist Ketema captured the men's and women's crowns at the milestone 50th edition of the BMW Berlin Marathon. Racing under crisp, near-flawless autumn conditions, the duo swept top honors across the German capital's flat and famously swift course.

In the men's contest, 24-year-old Mengesha unleashed a decisive burst in the final 400 meters along the approach to the iconic Brandenburg Gate, stopping the clock in a lifetime best of two hours, three minutes, and 17 seconds. Kenya's Cybrian Kotut finished five seconds behind in 2:03:22 to take silver, while Ethiopian compatriot Haymanot Alew took bronze.

Mengesha Triumphs in Thrilling Men's Duel

The men's pace was blistering from the gun, passing the halfway mark in 1:01:21 despite the absence of established legends Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge. Mengesha, who entered the race as an outsider, bided his time within a compact lead pack before showing tactical brilliance on the wide avenues of eastern Berlin.

The women's race witnessed a commanding wire-to-wire performance by Tigist Ketema, who broke clear early and ran unchallenged to cross the line in 2:16:42—the third fastest winning time in Berlin history. Fellow Ethiopians Mestawot Fikir (2:18:48) and Bosena Mulatie (2:19:00) rounded out an emphatic podium sweep.

“To win the 50th Berlin Marathon is an immense privilege. The energy of the crowd along the course propelled me through the final kilometers to this career-defining milestone.” — Milkesa Mengesha, 2024 Berlin Marathon Men's Champion

Ketema Dominates Women's Field at Jubilee Race

Organizers celebrated the 50th anniversary jubilee with an unprecedented celebration of endurance, welcoming a record 58,212 registered runners from more than 160 nations. Over one million spectators lined the 42.195-kilometer circuit, cheering runners through vibrant neighborhoods including Kreuzberg, Mitte, and Tiergarten.

The dual victory underlines the formidable depth of Ethiopia's emerging marathon generation following a transitional Olympic year. As both Mengesha and Ketema hoisted the commemorative 50th-edition trophies, Berlin cemented its status as the world's premier battleground for elite marathon speed.

Sources

• BMW Berlin-Marathon
• World Athletics