Kenya celebrated a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, with Sabastian Sawe storming to victory in the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru clinching the women’s crown.
Sawe, 30, clocked 2:02:16 to secure his third consecutive marathon win, following earlier triumphs in London and his debut race. The Kenyan set a blistering pace from the start, running much of the race alongside his pacesetters before pulling away from the field.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira finished second, nearly four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele took third.
“I did my best and I am happy with this performance,” Sawe said after the race. “It’s been a good year, and next year will be even better.”
At halfway, Sawe’s split time of 1:00:12 suggested he was on course to challenge the late Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35. However, he slowed in the latter stages.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru surged clear after 25km, crossing the finish line in 2:21:05. Ethiopia’s Dera Dida came in second, just three seconds behind, with compatriot Azmera Gebru third in 2:21:29.
Although Wanjiru’s time was well off the world record of 2:09:56 set by fellow Kenyan Ruth Chepng’etich in Chicago in 2024, her commanding run capped a triumphant day for Kenya in Berlin.
