Ethiopians dominated the Berlin Marathon as Milkesa Mengesha won the men’s race and Tigist Ketema claimed victory in the women’s event.
24 years old Mengesha ran a personal best time of two hours, three minutes 17 seconds to finish ahead of Kenya’s Cyrbian Kotut and fellow Ethiopian Haymanot Alew.
The last kilometer was an engaging battle between Mengesha and Kotut, but the Ethiopian stepped on the gas in the final stretch and surged over the finish line five seconds ahead.
The pre-race favourite was Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele, with five-times winner Eliud Kipchoge not competing. Takele finished seventh.
The women’s podium was all-Ethiopian, Ketema’s time of two hours 16 minutes and 42 seconds seeing her cross the finish line more than two minutes ahead of Mestawot Fikir and Bosena Mulatie.
Ketema opened up a sizeable lead in the first half of the run and clinched victory in the third-fastest time ever run in the event.