Tigst Assefa Chases World Record | Berlin Marathon 2026 Live Updates and Results

The 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon often promises fast racing conditions. The 2025 rendition saw World Record Holder Sabastian Sawe run 2:02:16, while Rosemary Wanjiru claimed victory in the women's race with her 2:21:05.

At the 2026 Berlin Marathon, Tigst Asefa will go after the Women's World Record.

Audiences in USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia can watch the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon LIVE on FloTrack on Sunday, September 27th at 2:30 AM ET.

3:50a ET - The Runners Have Crossed the Halfway Point

The men's lead pack still remain close together. Erick Sang, Selemon Barega, Andamlak Belihu, Gemechu Diriba, Shura Kitata and Asefa Boki have gone through the first half of the race in 1:01:01. Assefa is on world record pace. She crossed the halfway point in 1:04:57. The makes her projected finish time 2:09:53 and would be a few seconds under the current world record.

3:35a ET - The Leaders Over 15km Erick Sang, Selemon Barega, Gabriel Geay and Andamlak Belihu lead in 43:24. On the women's side, it is Assefa against the clock. She now leads the women's race by 1:50, coming through in 46:13. Rosemary Wanjiru trails in 48:03 and Dera Dida in 48:19.

Sadly, Esther Pfeiffer dropped out of the race at 13km. It is unclear what has happened, but she been on pace of the women's German national record. 3:30a ET - Assefa Continues to Widen Her Gap at the Front

Assefa went through the first 10km in 30:48, taking her lead from 25 seconds to 65 seconds over Rosemary Wanjiru, who hit the mark in 31:53. As Assefa approaches 14km she is currently predicted to finish the marathon under 2 hours and 10 minutes. 3:15a ET - The Men's Lead Pack is Made up of 10 Runners,10km Done Gabriel Geay and Erick Sang have now covered the first 10km in 28:58, with Andamlak Belihu, Asefa Boki, Gemechu Diriba, Guye Adola right there too in 28:59. Shura Kitata, Selemon Barega, Getaneh Molla and Taresa Tolosa followed in 29:00. 3:02a ET - The First 5km and Here are the Numbers

It is still very early stages, but Tigst Assefa has gone through the first 5km in 15:30. This takes us to a rough projected finish time of 2:10:45. The men's leaders over 5km include Selemon Barega, Asefa Boki and Erick Sang coming through in 14:29. For the women Assefa is already creating a gap. Rosemary Wanjiru follows in 15:55 and Pascaline Jelagat in 16:08.

The first few splits are in! For the men 2:52 over the first kilometre, totalling 5:47 through 2km! As for the women 3:03 for the first, then slowing to to 3:09 for the second. 2:45a ET - The Elite Runners Are Off! Here we go.The 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon is taking over the streets of the German capital. The elite men and women share the same start and in front of them, one of the fastest marathon courses in the world. Tigst Assefa headlines the women's field. She lines up on the course where she set what was the outright women's marathon world record in 2023 (2:11:53) - she still holds the Berlin course record and the women's only marathon world record of 2:15:41 from London this past April. She enters as the clear favourite. Behind her: 2025 Berlin champion Rosemary Wanjiru, Bedatu Hirpu, Dera Dida, Zeineba Yimer, Bosena Mulatie, the list goes on. Esther Pfeiffer is targeting the German women's national record. Fourteen women in the field have run 2:25 or faster. As for the men, Gabriel Geay heads the men's field with a 34-second gap on the next-fastest entrant. Getaneh Molla (runner-up from Seoul in April), Guye Adola (2:03:54 in Amsterdam earlier this year), Shura Kitata, Dejene Hailu and 2020 Olympic 10,000m champion Selemon Barega round out the front Eliud Kipchoge's course record of 2:01:09 has stood for four years. This field is built to threaten it.

Florian Von Muschwitz - Germany - 2:15:03

2026 BMW Berlin Marathon Women's Entries

The 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon takes place on Sunday, Sept. 27. For viewers in the United States, the race starts at 2:30 a.m. ET. In Berlin, the starting gun goes off at 8:30 a.m. local time.

Here's How To Watch The 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon In Berlin, Germany

FloTrack will provide live coverage of the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon , bringing the action from the streets of Berlin, Germany, to viewers at home. Subscribe here to catch all of the action.

Coverage begins at 2:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, September 27.

Video footage from each event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloTrack subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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