Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe cemented his reputation as one of the finest marathoners of his generation after storming to victory at the 51st Berlin Marathon. Sawe crossed the finish line in an impressive 2:02:15, securing his third consecutive marathon triumph following wins in Valencia and London.
The Berlin Marathon, renowned for its fast course and history of record-breaking performances, once again delivered high drama as Sawe took control early. The men’s field charged out at blistering speed, opening with a 2:44 first kilometre that hinted at a potential sub-two-hour finish. Sawe maintained a steady rhythm, clocking 14:09 at 5K and 28:26 at 10K, times reminiscent of record runs by Eliud Kipchoge and Kelvin Kiptum.
At the halfway mark, Sawe passed in 60:16, a split faster than Kiptum’s during his world-record run in Chicago. Though the pace was electric, the warm Berlin conditions began to take their toll beyond the 25K point, and projections of a sub-2:01 finish gradually faded.
Despite the rising challenge, Sawe never relinquished control. At 30K (1:26:06) and 35K (1:40:50), he remained at the front, while Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay attempted to keep pace. Sawe’s superior endurance and tactical execution proved decisive as he began to pull away in the closing stages.
As the race neared its climax, Berlin’s passionate spectators roared him through the iconic Brandenburg Gate. With arms raised in triumph, Sawe sealed yet another career-defining moment, crossing the line solo in 2:02:15. Though he missed out on improving his personal best of 2:02:05 set in Valencia, the performance stood out as a testament to his consistency and dominance in elite marathon running.
The victory further strengthens Sawe’s growing legacy and positions him as a top contender heading into the upcoming Olympic cycle. For Kenya, his triumph adds to its storied history on the streets of Berlin, a city where marathon legends are made and the limits of endurance are constantly tested.
With consecutive wins in Valencia, London, and now Berlin, Sabastian Sawe has firmly established himself as the man to beat on the global stage.
