Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa annihilates women’s world record at 2023 Berlin Marathon

Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa successfully defended her crown in incredible fashion at the 2023 Berlin Marathon, annihilating the women’s world record by two minutes and 12 seconds for 2:11:52.

Assefa won the race by nearly six minutes to become the first woman in history to run under the 2:14, 2:13 and 2:12 marks. She shattered the previous marathon world record of 2:14:04 held by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, set at the 2019 Chicago Marathon. Assefa is only the second Ethiopian woman to win back-to-back Berlin Marathons, joining her compatriot Gete Wami, who won Berlin in 2006 and 2007.

The 29-year-old Ethiopian surged ahead of the lead pack around the 16-kilometre mark, maintaining her lead and reaching the halfway point in 66:20. Her 30 km split clocked in at 1:34:12, which stands as the second-fastest time ever recorded for that checkpoint (behind only Ruth Chepngetich’s 1:34:01 from the 2022 Chicago Marathon). However, in contrast to Chepngetich’s final 10K from Chicago, Assefa’s performance in Berlin improved in the closing stages. She reached the 40 km mark in 2:05:13, propelled by another impressive 5K split of 15:32, putting her on track to threaten the 2:12 mark and make history in Berlin.

The 2023 Berlin Marathon was only the third marathon of Assefa’s career, but she has strived to return to the top of the podium since winning it last year. “I have been working to return to Berlin, it has been hard work for the last year,” Assefa said post-race. “I did not expect to run this record.”

Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui held on for second place in 2:17:49, while Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri ran a national record to take third place in 2:18:41.

Canada’s Elmore runs personal best

Canada’s Malindi Elmore almost reclaimed her national record (set by Natasha Wodak on this course a year ago), missing it by only 18 seconds. Elmore ran 2:23:30, which is an 80-second personal best and well under the Olympic standard of 2:26:50 for Paris 2024. Elmore, who is 43, finished in 13th place and won the women’s masters division. She was also the fastest North American female.

A beautiful run!! pic.twitter.com/XlH3C1kkvy

— Graham Hood (@grahamhood) September 24, 2023

Top 10 results

1. Tigist Assefa ETH 2:11:52
2. Sheila Chepkirui KEN 2:17:49
3. Magdalena Shauri TAN 2:18:41
4. Zeineba Yimer ETH 2:19:07
5. Senbere Teferi ETH 2:19:21
6. Dera Dida ETH 2:19:24
7. Workenesh Edesa ETH 2:19:40
8. Helen Bekele ETH 2:19:44
9. Charlotte Purdue GBR 2:22:17
10. Fikrte Wereta ETH 2:23:01

The men’s race

Eliud Kipchoge won his fifth Berlin Marathon on Sunday in a blazing 2:02:42, only a minute and a half off his world record time, but the numbers do not tell the whole story. Though he went through the halfway mark with a minute’s lead on the chase pack, the double Olympic champion’s energy appeared to flag as the finish line approached as the chasers gained time on him. Shockingly, he shared the podium with two athletes appearing in their marathon debuts: 24-year-old Vincent Kipkemoi (2:03:13) of Kenya and 21-year-old Tadese Takele of Ethiopia (2:03:24).

Check here for full results from the 2023 BMW Berlin Marathon.