Ethiopian runner Tigst Assefa narrowly missed the women’s world record at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday. She maintained record pace for much of the race before an injury affected her performance during the closing stages.
Assefa accelerated during the final 10 kilometres while chasing the record. However, she faded near the finish and crossed the line visibly limping before collapsing on the road.
Assefa Sets Third-Fastest Time
The Ethiopian completed the marathon in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 4 seconds. Her performance marked the third-fastest women’s marathon time in history and also improved her previous personal best.
Assefa also broke the Berlin Marathon course record of 2:11:53, which she had established in 2023. Despite missing the world record, her latest performance marked another significant achievement in her marathon career.
World Record Remains With Chepngetich
Assefa’s late decline left the women’s world record of 2:09:56 intact. Kenyan runner Ruth Chepngetich currently holds the mark, although her record remains under scrutiny following her three-year doping ban in 2025.
Meanwhile, Assefa missed the podium ceremony because she received medical treatment after finishing the race. Ethiopian runners also completed an all-Ethiopian podium in Berlin.
Bedatu Hirpa secured second place with a time of 2:16:53. Dera Dida finished third in 2:16:55, completing Ethiopia’s sweep of the women’s podium.
Assefa’s performance nevertheless placed her among the fastest women marathon runners in history. Her record-breaking course performance also highlighted her ability to compete at the highest level despite the injury she suffered during the race.
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