BERLIN – Ethiopian runner Tigist Assefa broke the women’s marathon world record in Berlin on Sunday, finishing in an official time of 2:11:53. Assefa cut more than two minutes off the previous best, which was set by Brigid Kosgei of Kenya in 2019.
Assefa set a blistering pace from the start, and she quickly opened up a gap on the other runners. She passed the halfway mark in 1:06:20, which was on world record pace. Assefa continued to extend her lead in the second half of the race, and she crossed the finish line with a huge margin of victory.
Assefa’s performance is one of the most impressive in marathon history. She is only the second woman to break the 2:12 barrier, and she is the first to do it since 2019. Assefa’s performance is also a testament to the strength of Ethiopian distance running. Ethiopian runners have won the Berlin Marathon every year since 2016.
Assefa’s victory is a historic moment for Ethiopian athletics, and it is a sign that she is one of the greatest marathon runners of all time.