Ethiopian runner Fotyen Tesfay delivered a remarkable performance at the 2025 Generali Berlin Half Marathon, setting a new course record with a time of 1:03:35. This achievement not only eclipsed the previous record of 1:05:02 by over a minute and a half but also stands as the fifth-fastest women’s half marathon time ever recorded.
Tesfay’s victory led an Ethiopian sweep of the women’s podium, with compatriots Ftaw Zeray finishing second in 1:07:02 and Alemaddis Eyayu securing third place with a time of 1:07:12.
In the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Gemechu Dida narrowly missed the course record, winning with a time of 58:43—just one second shy of the existing record. Kenya’s Richard Etir Lodung followed in second place at 59:30, while Germany’s Amanal Petros made history by becoming the first German to complete a half marathon in under an hour, finishing third with a national record of 59:31.
The event saw a record-breaking participation of 40,721 runners from 135 nations, reinforcing its status as one of the world’s premier half marathons.
Tesfay’s exceptional performance in Berlin underscores her rising prominence in long-distance running and sets a high standard for future competitions.
