Tigist Assefa looked almost certain to break Ruth Chepngetich's world marathon record of 2:09:56 in Sunday's, 27 September, Berlin Marathon but late drama halted her challenge going on to win the race in 2:11:04, the third-fastest time in history.Her training partner Guye Adola completed an Ethiopian double, winning the men’s contest in a PB of 2:02:50. It was his second victory in Berlin, five years after his first, and finally improved on the personal best (PB) he had set on his marathon debut in the German capital nine years ago.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsAssefa, meanwhile, produced one of the most remarkable record attempts in marathon history. At 40km she was still on course to challenge the world record of 2:09:56 before appearing to suffer a physical problem during the closing stages.Until then, her pace had been relentless. The world and Olympic silver medalist reached 5km in 15:30 and was already well clear of the field by 10km, which she passed in 30:48. Defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru was second in 31:53, herself 26 seconds ahead of a 10-woman chase pack.Veteran coach explains how sprint records could fall in Nairobi 2029 World ChampionshipsAssefa covered the next 10km in an even quicker 30:46, reaching 20km in 1:01:34, and hit halfway in 1:04:57, the third-fastest halfway split ever recorded in a women’s marathon.By then her advantage had grown considerably. Wanjiru reached halfway almost three minutes behind in 1:07:42 and was just three seconds ahead of a chasing quartet comprising Bedatu Hirpa, Dera Dida, Pascaline Jelagat and Alemitu Tariku.There was little sign of Assefa relenting. She passed 25km in 1:17:00, keeping her inside 2:10 pace, then produced her fastest 10km section of the race to reach 30km in 1:32:15. Her projected finishing time was back inside world record pace at 2:09:45.Remarkably, she accelerated again between 30km and 35km, covering that section in 15:17 to reach the latter checkpoint in 1:47:32.##NAJAVA_MECA_9990172##With Assefa more than five minutes clear and Ethiopian compatriots Hirpa, Dida and Tariku all projected to finish inside 2:16, the main intrigue centred on the clock.A 3:02 37th kilometre put Assefa on schedule for about 2:09:36. She reached 40km in 2:03:00, still projecting a 2:09:44 finish and having produced extraordinarily consistent 10km sections of 30:48, 30:46, 30:41 and 30:45.But almost immediately the picture changed. Assefa began running with a pronounced limp and was visibly grimacing as her pace dropped dramatically.Omanyala returns to former school to launch sprints clubWith such an enormous advantage, she had time in hand, though, and made it to the Brandenburg Gate before crossing the line in 2:11:04. Despite the difficult finish, she took 49 seconds off the PB and course record of 2:11:53 she had set when winning in Berlin in 2023.It was also Assefa’s third Berlin victory, following her wins in 2022 and 2023, and her third marathon triumph from her past four starts.Behind her, Hirpa prevailed in a close battle for second, clocking 2:16:53 to finish two seconds ahead of Dida. Bekelech Gudeta was fourth in 2:18:58 and Tariku fifth in 2:19:01.##NAJAVA_MECA_9985047##The men’s race remained tightly packed for considerably longer. A large lead group passed 10km in 28:58 and nine men remained together at halfway, reached in 1:01:01.Adola was joined there by Selemon Barega, Gemechu Dida, Andamlak Belihu, Shura Kitata, Asefa Boki, Getaneh Molla and Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay among the main contenders.The group began to stretch out approaching 25km, and by 30km Adola had moved to the front. He reached that checkpoint in 1:26:57, putting him just outside 2:02 pace, with Barega, Dida and Geay still close behind.Geay began to lose contact a couple of kilometres later and Adola then made the decisive move. By 35km, he had opened a nine-second advantage over Dida, with Barega another four seconds adrift. The gap continued to grow during the closing stages and Adola was never seriously threatened again.Athletics Great Kipchoge Keino reveals how Kenya stands to profit from 2029 World ChampionshipsHe crossed the line in 2:02:50, taking almost a minute off the PB he had set on his marathon debut in Berlin in 2017, when he finished second to Eliud Kipchoge.Dida finished strongly to take second in 2:03:19, while Geay secured third in 2:03:59. Molla was fourth in 2:04:55, three seconds ahead of Barega.Women1 Tigst Assefa (ETH) 2:11:042 Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) 2:16:533 Dera Dida (ETH) 2:16:554 Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:18:585 Alemitu Tariku (ETH) 2:19:016 Pascaline Jelagat (KEN) 2:20:237 Misgane Alemayehu (ETH) 2:20:278 Ludwina Chepngetich (KEN) 2:21:259 Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:21:3210 Aminet Ahmed (ETH) 2:21:45Men1 Guye Adola (ETH) 2:02:502 Gemechu Dida (ETH) 2:03:193 Gabriel Geay (TAN) 2:03:594 Getaneh Molla (ETH) 2:04:555 Selemon Barega (ETH) 2:04:586 Asefa Boki (ETH) 2:05:327 Andamlak Belihu (ETH) 2:05:558 Shura Kitata (ETH) 2:06:049 Yuhei Urano (JPN) 2:06:0910 Tadu Abate (ETH) 2:07:16