The 2025 Berlin Half-Marathon was a showcase of unbelievable athletic prowess, with Ethiopian runners dominating the competition adn breaking records. Prepare too be amazed as you discover the stunning achievements and record-breaking performances at the Berlin Half-Marathon, where both the women’s and men’s races saw remarkable times despite challenging weather conditions. Read on to learn more about the exceptional triumphs from these athletes and how close the records were to being broken.
Ethiopian Runners Dominate the Berlin Half-Marathon
Women’s Race: Tesfay’s Triumph
Fotyen Tesfay, an Ethiopian athlete, delivered a stunning performance at the 44th Berlin Half-Marathon.She shattered the course record with a time of 63:35, marking the fifth-fastest half-marathon ever recorded.
- Dominance: Tesfay’s victory was decisive, finishing a remarkable three minutes and 26 seconds ahead of her competitors.
- Conditions: Despite
extremely windy and cold temperatures
, Tesfay maintained her rhythm and achieved a personal best. - Past Context: Only Letsenbet Gidey, Agnes Jebet Ngetich, and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk have recorded faster times in the half-marathon.
Her compatriots, Ftaw Zeray and Alemaddis Eyayu, secured second and third places with times of 67:02 and 67:12, respectively. Esther Pfeiffer was the fastest German woman, finishing seventh with a time of 69:15.
The course is vrey good but it was extremely windy and the cold temperatures made it also difficult for me. But I kept my rhythm well and I’m happy with my fast time.
Fotyen Tesfay
Men’s Race: dida’s Near-record Performance
In the men’s race, Gemechu Dida, also from Ethiopia, triumphed, narrowly missing the course record. He clocked an notable 58:43, just nine seconds shy of the historic mark.
- Podium Finishers: Richard Etir from Kenya finished second with a time of 59:30.
- German Record: Amanal Petros of Germany delivered a sensational performance, completing the podium.
- National Record: Petros improved his national record from 60:09 to 59:31, placing him fourth on the European half-marathon all-time list.
Petros’s achievement places him behind Julien Wanders, Andreas Almgren, and Yemaneberhan Crippa in the European rankings.
I am very happy, all the effort was worth it. But the wind was tough.
Amanal Petros
Petros attributed his success to his training at altitude in Kenya.
A Record-Breaking Event
The 44th Berlin Half-Marathon saw a record number of participants, with 40,721 runners from 135 nations registered for the event.
- Global Participation: The race attracted athletes from around the world, highlighting its international appeal.
- Spectacular Event: Known as Germany’s biggest and moast spectacular half-marathon, the event lived up to its reputation.
I hardly expected such strong times in these weather conditions and have to congratulate the athletes. The fact that they ran so fast in these conditions is amazing.
Race Director Mark Milde
