Berlin Marathon: Tigst Assefa, with a time of 2:11:53, the announced queen of the women's race

The women's race at the Berlin Marathon, scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026, with a start time of 8:45 AM (Central European Time) according to LetsRun, features an elite field that is almost entirely East African. Headlining the event is Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa, returning to the course that made her a legend.

Berlin, her home turf

It was here, in 2023, that Assefa completed the distance in 2:11:53, a time that remains her personal best and which at the time stood as a world record. World Athletics notes that she had already triumphed in Berlin in 2022 and 2023. Her 2026 season has been solid: a victory in London in April with a time of 2:15:41, following a London success in 2:15:50 a year earlier, details LetsRun. At the World Championships in September 2025, she took second place in 2:24:45.

The athlete herself remains measured regarding her ambitions. Quoted by World Athletics, she states that she is "very well prepared" and is aiming for a personal best—which, in her case, would mean dipping below 2:11:53.

Kenya in ambush

The defending champion, Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru, is looking for more. Her personal best, 2:16:14, dates back to Tokyo in 2024; she won in Berlin in 2025 in 2:21:05 and is aiming for a time under 2:15:00 this time around, according to World Athletics.

Ethiopian Dera Dida, who finished second last year in 2:21:08 and holds a personal best of 2:18:32 from Dubai, completes the announced top trio. World Athletics also cites Zeineba Yimer, Bedatu Hirpa, Misgane Alemayehu, and Bekelech Gudeta, all of whom have run under 2:20:00 this season. In other words: seven of the main contenders come from two countries, Ethiopia and Kenya.

A domination built, not given

This East African stranglehold on the global marathon scene is no geographical coincidence or cliché about altitude. It is the product of decades of structuring: training camps, local competition circuits, coaching pathways, and a sports economy that sustains entire regions, from Addis Ababa to Iten.

In the men's race, the field also remains African-led, headed by Tanzania's Gabriel Geay (2:03:00) and Ethiopians Guye Adola, Shura Kitata, and Getaneh Molla, all of whom have clocked under 2:04:00. Berlin, renowned for its flat and fast course, is accustomed to rewarding boldness: on Sunday morning, the 30-kilometer mark will be the one to watch.