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Kenya's Sabastian Sawe, Rosemary Wanjiru win Berlin Marathon
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe crosses the line to win the men's Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany on September 21, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Sawe was on world record pace in the first half of the race, only to slow down later but still romped home in a world lead time.
- In the women's race, Wanjiru finished in 2:21:05 to become the first Kenyan woman to win in Berlin since Gladys Cherono in 2018.
Kenyans Sebastian Sawe and Rosemary Wanjiru were on Sunday crowned champions of the 51st Berlin Marathon.
Sawe was on world record pace in the first half of the race, only to slow down later but still romped home in a world lead time of 2:02:16.
He was well ahead of second placed Japanese Akira Akasaki who finished in 2:06:15 and Ethiopia’s Debele Chemdessa, third in 2:06:57.
“The race was good and I had planned to go faster today but the conditions did not allow it (temperature rose to 25 degrees Celsius). I’m glad I finished as a winner but I will still come and compete here next year because the course is good and fast,” said Sawe, who became the 15th Kenyan man to win Berlin Marathon.
In the women's race, Wanjiru finished in 2:21:05 to become the first Kenyan woman to win in Berlin since Gladys Cherono in 2018.
Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru crosses the line to win the Women's elite race during Berlin Marathon in Germany on September 21, 2025.
Wanjiru surged ahead after the 25km mark but endured anxious moments in the closing stages as the fast-finishing Dera Dida of Ethiopia closed in before crossing the line in 2:21:0 for second place. Ethiopia’s Azmera Gebru sealed the podium positions in 2:21:29.
It was on this very course in 2022 that Wanjiru made her marathon debut, impressing with a runner-up finish in 2:18:00, one of the fastest debuts in history.
The 30-year-old Sawe launched his marathon career at the Valencia Marathon last year clocking a blistering 2:02:05 to win the race before heading to the London Marathon in April this year where he clocked world lead time of 2:07:27.
Sawe, who trains under 2Running Athletics Club in Kapsabet, has been quietly training in Nandi Hills among other areas closely monitored by his Italian coach Claudio Berardelli.
All-time best runners
He trains with former London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto, former Boston Marathon champion Evans Chebet, the Olympics marathon bronze medallist Benson Kipruto among other top athletes.
Sawe’s personal best time of 2:02:05 puts in fifth spot on the marathon all-time best runners behind world record holder, the late Kelvin Kiptum, Eliud Kichoge, Kenenisa Bekele and Sisay Lemma, in that order.
The Berlin Marathon has had a long history of clocking fast times. Nine world records have been broken in the German city. Since it’s inception in 1974, Kenyan men have won 20 titles.
Paul Tergat was the first Kenyan to break the world record in Berlin in 2003 in a time of 2:04:55. Kipchoge clocked 2:01:39 for the world record in Berlin in 2018 before lowering it to 2:01:09 in the same city two years later.
