Sabastian Sawe to run in Berlin

Mark Milde, Race Director of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, commented: “We are very pleased that Sabastian Sawe appreciates the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and its course. He already proved how well he performs on the capital’s asphalt with his impressive victory at the 2023 GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. One thing is certain: the race will be very exciting!”

Sawe ran his personal best of 2:02:05 at his marathon debut in Valencia in 2024 and claimed victory in London in April 2025 with a time of 2:02:27.

Milkesa Mengesha is returning to the race where he celebrated the greatest success of his career so far. The 25-year-old Ethiopian won the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON last year with his still-standing personal best of 2:03:17—improving by more than two minutes. Joining the field is Gabriel Geay, the Tanzanian marathon record holder. The 28-year-old ran 2:03:00 in Valencia three years ago, finishing second. After a less successful 2024, he made a strong comeback with a win in Daegu (South Korea) in February, clocking 2:05:20.

The women’s field also features several elite runners. Rosemary Wanjiru returns to the German capital, where her impressive marathon career began in 2022. The Kenyan finished second in Berlin with a time of 2:18:00 on her debut. Six months later, she won the Tokyo Marathon, and in 2024 she was runner-up there with her current personal best of 2:16:14.

Another standout athlete is Degitu Azimeraw, who has already run well under 2:20:00 multiple times. The 24-year-old Ethiopian delivered her best performance to date in London in 2021, surprising with a second-place finish in 2:17:58. Mestawut Fikir, also from Ethiopia, is returning to the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON as well. After winning her marathon debut in Paris last year, the 25-year-old improved her time in Berlin, finishing second in 2:18:48.

Berlin has seen a total of 13 marathon world records—more than any other marathon worldwide. Jürgen Lock, CEO of SCC EVENTS, on the future of the event after celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024 in Berlin, the sports capital: “In the coming years, we will continue to focus on the unique conditions and the fast course for the world’s best marathon runners. No other race worldwide has recorded as many world records since 1998 as Berlin. As a co-founder of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, we are setting standards in the world of running.” In addition to the many elite athletes (more announcements to follow in the coming weeks), organizer SCC EVENTS expects over 50,000 runners from all around the world to take part in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON.