Berlin Marathon 2025: Sabastian Sawe Dominates in 2:02:16
Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe lived up to his status as the pre-race favorite on Sunday, September 21, by winning the 2025 Berlin Marathon in 2:02:16, the fastest performance in the world this year. In a race contested under difficult weather conditions, France’s Hassan Chahdi stood out with a strong 6th-place finish in 2:07:43. On the women’s side, Kenyan Rosemary Wanjiru claimed victory after a dramatic duel with Ethiopia’s Dera Dida. Here’s a look back at the 51st edition of this legendary marathon.
| Sabastian Sawe, Untouchable
All eyes were on him—and he delivered. After victories in Valencia (2024) and London (2025), Sabastian Sawe added the prestigious Berlin Marathon to his résumé, making it three wins in his first three career marathons. The Kenyan went out at near-world record pace before slightly slowing, but still dominated in a commanding fashion.
Sheltered early on within a group of five pacemakers, Sawe set a blistering tempo—28:26 at 10K, 1:00:16 at halfway—suggesting not just a new course record (Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:09) but even a shot at the world record (Kelvin Kiptum, 2:00:35). Calm and composed, his stride radiated confidence. Behind him, Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha, last year’s champion (2:03:17), bravely tried to hang on. But the gamble quickly proved too costly. By the 13th kilometer, unable to keep up with Sawe’s relentless rhythm, Mengesha cracked and eventually dropped out.
The question became: how long could Sawe sustain this brutal pace? Unfortunately, the pacemakers couldn’t carry him very far. By the halfway mark, only two were left, and from the 25th kilometer onward, Sawe was entirely on his own. Running more than 17 kilometers solo in searing heat was always going to be a monumental challenge. Predictably, his world record hopes faded as the race wore on. Showing signs of fatigue, his pace slowed slightly, but he dug deep to limit the damage. Way ahead of the field, he crossed the line in 2:02:16, just 11 seconds off his personal best.
His closest challenger, Japan’s Akira Akasaki, clocked 2:06:15, finishing more than four minutes behind. Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele rounded out the podium in 2:06:57.
| Hassan Chahdi Shines with a Brilliant 6th Place
For French fans, all eyes were on Hassan Chahdi. The 2024 Paris Olympian, who finished 20th in those Games, once again delivered a clever, disciplined performance—the hallmark of his career. The AL Voiron athlete, who prepared at altitude in Font-Romeu over the summer, paced himself perfectly. Passing halfway in 1:03:59 in 28th position, he produced a superb negative split, steadily moving up through the field. His reward: 6th place in 2:07:43, just 13 seconds shy of his personal best, and first European finisher. A performance that confirms his consistency at the highest level and cements his place among Europe’s strongest marathoners.
| Rosemary Wanjiru Survives a Thrilling Finish
The women’s race was just as gripping. Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru took the lead early on but had to withstand a furious late charge from Ethiopia’s Dera Dida. In a nail-biting finale, Wanjiru held on by just three seconds, winning in 2:21:05. Ethiopia’s Azmera Gebru completed the podium in 2:21:29, ahead of Kenya’s Viola Cheptoo.
It was a hard-fought victory for Wanjiru, already a winner in Tokyo (2023), but she paid the price for her effort. Utterly spent, she had to be assisted after the finish, drained by the final straight and the oppressive heat.
| Heat Wave Hits Berlin
Berlin is known for its flat, fast course, but the conditions for this 51st edition were unexpectedly brutal. The race began at 21°C and temperatures climbed to 27°C by early afternoon. The heat took its toll on the athletes. Even Sabastian Sawe, who was on world record pace at halfway, was forced to ease off in the second half. Several contenders—including defending champion Milkesa Mengesha—failed to cope and dropped out.
With three wins in as many marathons and three sub-2:03 performances, Sabastian Sawe is now emerging as the natural heir to the late Kelvin Kiptum and the legendary Eliud Kipchoge. At just 30 years old, he represents the new wave of marathoners capable of threatening the mythical two-hour barrier. Berlin may not have delivered a world record this year, but it confirmed one thing: the future of marathon running likely runs through Sabastian Sawe.
✔ See all the results from the 2025 Berlin Marathon.
Clément LABORIEUX
Journaliste
