Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe wins Berlin Marathon in 2:02:16
It was a Kenyan double on Sunday, with Sabastian Sawe and Rosemary Wanjiru capturing top spots despite scorching heat
Kevin Morris
On Sunday, Kenya swept the top step of the podium at the Berlin Marathon, as Sabastian Sawe stormed to a commanding men’s victory in 2:02:16, and Rosemary Wanjiru held off a late charge to win the women’s race.
Sawe in control
Sawe ran alone for much of the second half, clocking 2:02:16 in warm conditions that slowed the field but couldn’t stop him. Through the halfway mark, he was moving at course-record pace, but the rising heat forced him to shift from chasing time to locking down the win–yet he still had a four-minute lead on second place. The 30-year-old has now won all three marathons he’s entered—Valencia in his debut, London this past spring and now Berlin. Japan’s Akira Akasaki took second in 2:06:15, with Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele third in 2:06:57.
Sawe’s time is the ninth-fastest in marathon history, and the second-fastest of his career. (He ran 2:02:05 in Valencia last year.)
Men’s top 10
Sebastian Sawe (KEN) 2:02:16
Akira Akasaki (JPN) 2:06:15
Chimdessa Debele (ETH) 2:06:57
Tsegaye Getachew (ETH) 2:07:18
Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 2:07:27
Kennedy Kimutai (KEN) 2:07:56
Amos Kipruto (KEN) 2:08:48
Hendrik Pfeiffer (GER) 2:09:14
Enock Onchari (KEN) 2:09:35
Dominic Kiptarus (KEN) 2:09:42
Wanjiru holds her lead
The women’s race came down to the wire. Rosemary Wanjiru surged clear around the 25-km mark, but Ethiopia’s Dera Dida clawed back in the final stretch. Wanjiru made her marathon debut in 2022, also at the Berlin Marathon, where she finished second with a time of 2:18:00, marking the second-fastest women’s marathon debut at the time. On Sunday, the finish line arrived just in time for Wanjiru, who held on to win by three seconds, in 2:21:05. Azmera Gebru finished third, in 2:21:29.
Women’s top 10
Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 2:21:05
Dera Dida (ETH) 2:21:08
Azmera Gebru (ETH) 2:21:29
Fantu Worku (ETH) 2:22:06
Helen Bekele Tola (ETH) 2:22:12
Fabienne Königstein (GER) 2:22:17
Sutume Asefa Kebede (ETH) 2:22:44
Domenika Mayer (GER) 2:23:16
Viola Kibiwot (KEN) 2:23:40
Delvine Meringor (ROU) 2:24:11
For full results of the 2025 Berlin Marathon, head here.
