Assefa (2:11:04 CR) missed WR due to injury
BERLIN (GER, Sep 27): Tigst Assefa took her third victory in the Berlin Marathon (WA Platinum Label), but a leg injury in the late stages cost her the world record. Assefa stayed on sub-2:10 pace through 40km (2:03:00) before slowing to a limp, covering the last 2.2km in 8:04.
However, her winning time of 2:11:04 (64:57/66:07) was still a lifetime best, a course record, and the third-fastest time in history behind Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich (2:09:56) and Ethiopia’s Fotyen Tesfay (2:10:51).
Assefa won by over five minutes ahead of fellow Ethiopians Bedatu Hirpa (2:16:53 PB), former World U18 1500m champion, and reigning runner-up Dera Dida (2:16:55 PB), with Bekelech Gudeta (2:18:58 PB) and Alemitu Tariku (2:19:01 PB), who improved by 10:05, also breaking the 2:20 barrier. Anna Langerwisch was the leading German finisher, 16th, in 2:27:31 PB.
