Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe stormed to victory at the Berlin Marathon 2025 to kick off a run of World Marathon Majors this autumn.
Sawe, who clocked 2:02.16 after winning the 2025 London Marathon, was unable to threaten the late Kelvin Kiptum’s staggering world record (2:00:35) in hot conditions.
"It was hard but I was prepared," Sawe said. "I did my best and I happy for this performance. I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Japan's Akasaki Akira was a surprise second after a powerful second half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia's Chimdessa Debele came in third.
Sawe's compatriot Rosemary Wanjiru won the women's race (2:21.05), going one better than her previous second-place finish as she crossed the line just ahead of Ethiopia's Dera Dida, whose compatriot Azmera Gebru was third.
Berlin Marathon 2025 results
Men
1) Sabastian Sawe (KEN) - 2:02.16
2) Akira Akasaki (JPN) - 2:06:15
3) Chimdessa Debele (ETH) - 2:06:57
4) Guye Adola (ETH) - 2:07:11
5) Yuhei Urano (JPN) - 2:07:35
6) Hassan Chahdi (FRA) - 2:07:43
7) Shin Kimura (JPN) - 2:08:37
8) Hendrik Preiffer (GER) - 2:09:14
9) Joseph Tiophil Panga (TAN) - 2:09:35
10) Ahmed Ouhda (ITA) - 2:10:39
Women
1) Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) - 2:21:05
2) Dera Dida (ETH) - 2:21:08
3) Azmera Gebru (ETH) - 2:21:29
4) Viola Cheptoo (KEN) - 2:21:40
5) Fantu Worku (ETH) - 2:21:57
6) Fabienne Konigstein (GER) - 2:22:17
7) Degitu Azimeraw (ETH) - 2:23:02
8) Domenika Mayer (GER) - 2:23:16
9) Honami Maeda (JPN) - 2:24:36
10) Mestawut Fikir (ETH) - 2:24:52
What is the prize money?
Men’s and women’s elite races
1st €30,000
2nd €15,000
3rd €10,000
4th €8,000
5th €6,500
7th €4,000
8th €3,000
9th €2,000
10th €1,500
Bonuses
Men
1st runner sub-2:02:30: €30.000
1st/2nd sub-2:03:30: €15.000
World record (2:00:35): €50,000
Women
1st runner sub-2:16:00: €30.000
1st/2nd sub-2:18:00: €15.000
World record (2:09:53): €50,000
Reuters contributed to this report