Ethiopians Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist Ketema triumphed at the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, claiming victories in the men’s and women’s races, respectively. Mengesha, 24, ran a personal best of 2:03:17, edging out Kenya’s Cyrbian Kotut by five seconds in a thrilling final kilometer. Fellow Ethiopian Haymanot Alew finished third. In the women’s race, Ketema, 26, crossed the finish line with a time of 2:16:42, over two minutes ahead of Mestawot Fikir and Bosena Mulatie, who completed an all-Ethiopian podium. Ketema’s time is the third-fastest in the history of the Berlin Marathon; it is five minutes behind Tigst Assefa’s world record from last year. With major athletes like Eliud Kipchoge and others absent after competing in the Paris Olympics, the Ethiopians seized the moment and dominated the race.
SOURCE: VOA NEWS