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PRESS RELEASE FROM 06. APRIL 2025
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Update: GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON WITH RECORD FIELD AND FAST TIMES
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- Course record
- German record
- Participant record
Tesfay smashed the course record
Fotyen Tesfay smashed the course record of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. The Ethiopian stormed to a sensational 63:35 finishing time at the Brandenburg Gate in cold weather conditions. Tesfay clocked the fifth fastest time ever and ran a world lead. Her fellow-Ethiopians Ftaw Zeray and Alemaddis Eyayu took second and third with 67:02 and 67:12 respectively while Esther Pfeiffer was the fastest German woman in seventh place with a personal best of 69:15.
Amanal with German record
In contrast to the women’s winner Gemechu Dida missed the course record by the smallest of margins. The Ethiopian clocked 58:43 while the record stands at 58:42. Behind second placed Kenyan Richard Etir (59:30) Germany’s Amanal Petros produced a sensational performance. The 29 year-old improved his national record from 60:09 to 59:31. Petros is the first German to break the hour barrier and became the fourth fastest European ever. He also established a strong European leading time for 2025. Behind him Germany’s European marathon champion Richard Ringer ran a personal best of 60:51 for fourth place.
40,721 runners from 135 nations
A record number of 40,721 runners from 135 nations were registered for Germany’s biggest and most spectacular half marathon which saw its 44th edition. Adding races that were staged parallel the total entry number was over 42,000. The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON now belongs to the group of the biggest races worldwide over this distance.
Fotyen Tesfay stormed away
“I hardly expected such strong times in these weather conditions and have to congratulate the athletes. The fact that they ran so fast in these conditions is amazing,“ said Race Director Mark Milde. Fotyen Tesfay stormed away from the start and with her solo run produced the best performance of the day. The Ethiopian had split times in the first half that were close to the world record of her compatriot Letesenbet Gidey (62:52). But in the second half of the race she was no longer able to keep up the extremely fast pace. “The course is very good, but it was extremely windy and the cold temperatures made it also difficult for me,“ said Fotyen Tesfay. “But I kept my rhythm well and I'm happy with my fast time.“
Dida and Petros with great performance
It was Gemechu Dida, the fastest runner on the start list, who took the initiative early. When he passed the 10k mark in 27:43, he already had a lead of 19 seconds over Richard Etir. Dida's lead increased slightly as he chased the course record. But in the end the Ethiopian missed the time of Kenyan Eric Kiptanui, who established the record of 58:42 in 2018, by just one second. Amanal Petros was on course for a time of well under an hour right from the start. The German, who was third at the European Championships’ half marathon last year and now prepares for the London Marathon, performed brilliantly against the strong Africans. After several attempts in the past he has now broken his three and a half year old record in Berlin. “I am very happy, all the effort was worth it. But the wind was tough,“ said Amanal Petros, who trained at altitude in Kenya. The European Marathon Champion also ran a strong race: Richard Ringer finished fourth with a personal best time of 60:51.
Youngster Blanka Dörfel ran a strong race
Not unexpectedly Esther Pfeiffer was the fastest German runner. “I am happy to have beaten my personal best despite the wind. It was not easy in these conditions,“ said Esther Pfeiffer, who finished in seventh place with 69:15. Youngster Blanka Dörfel ran a strong race, improved to 69:46 and was the second fastest German in tenth position. Steeplechase specialist Gesa Krause followed in eleventh place in 70:02.
Vonk and Rijhnen Fastest Inline Skaters
Norlay Berber Vonk (40:59 min., SPSPSK Team/NED) and Felix Rijhnen (32:13 min., Powerslide Vesmaco Team/Darmstadt) are the victorious inline skaters of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. For Felix Rijhnen, this marks his fifth win at the Berlin spring classic. By kilometer 5, a leading group of four had formed, including Rijhnen, Jason Suttles (Powerslide Vesmaco/BEL), last year’s winner Nolan Beddiaf (MANAO FRSkates/FRA), and Julio Cesar Mirena Ortiz (SheaStokes/PAR), who raced at a high pace for most of the course. “We could have been a lot faster, but in the final kilometers, we were just watching each other,” said Rijhnen. “Thanks to Jason, we managed to get into the perfect position just before the finish and secured the top two spots for our team.” Team Powerslide Vesmaco also includes Belgian skater Bart Swings. The serial winner of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON and Olympic speed skating champion couldn’t participate today due to a knee injury. Third place went to Julio Cesar Mirena Ortiz.
Josie Hofmann on the Podium
As the winner of the 2024 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON Inline Skating event, Norlay Berber Vonk lived up to her role as favorite in the women’s race. The 27-year-old clinched victory in a final sprint against Natalia Pesantez (SheaStokes/ECU). Third place on the podium went to Josie Hofmann (Powerslide Vesmaco) from Gera. “I trained on wheels for the first time in months this Monday, so I’m more than happy,” said Hofmann, who is currently aiming to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics on ice. “It’s just a fantastic feeling to win in Berlin. There’s nothing better for me. I’ll definitely be back for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON.”
Also for Fitness-Oriented Skaters
The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON also marked the start of the GERMAN INLINE CUP 2025 – the most important national race series, with its final held as part of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. In addition to the winners in the speedskating category, fitness-oriented skaters can also collect points for the overall standings. Today’s wins in the fitness category went to Daniel Greig (39:56 min., AUS) and Michaela Egelseer (40:16 min.) from Bavaria.
Good to know: Inline skaters can still register for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 20, 2025.
Wheelchair Competitors with sensational performance
Amos Ruben Donath is just 14 years old – and today, the young German athlete made headlines in the wheelchair racing event. His time of 56:14 minutes is considered an outstanding and rarely matched top performance for U17 athletes. He finished only three seconds behind last year’s winner Thomas van Hulst (56:11 min., NED). In the handcycling division, last year’s winner also repeated his success: Mathias Behr won in 44:21 minutes. Fastest female racer was Yvonne Pijahn (50:09 min.). Since 2024, organizer SCC EVENTS has been offering youth competitions at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON for talented wheelchair and handbike athletes up to the age of 23.
Top men:
1. Gemechu Dida (ETH) 58:43 min.
2. Richard Lodung Etir (KEN) 59:30 min.
3. Amanal Petros (GER) 59:31 min.
Top women:
1. Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 63:35 min.
2. Ftaw Zeray (ETH) 67:02 min.
3. Alemaddis Eyayu (ETH) 67:12 min.
More results (here)
Download News clip and rough cuts WE SEND LATER:
The news clip after the race Professionally edited and dubbed news clip from the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON will be available for download to all media. The use of the moving images is rights- and license-free.
1.) Newsclip 16:9
2.) Newsclip 9:16
3.) Highlight Rough Cut
4.) Quotes & Interviews
Photo download
Photos in high-resolution quality can be used free of charge for editorial purposes, provided the source of the photo is mentioned.
1) Gemechu Dida (ETH) wins the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 58:43 minutes.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
2) Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) wins the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON with a course record of 63:35 minutes.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
3) The German Felix Rijhnen won the inline skaters' race at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 32:13 minutes.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
4) Noraly Berber Vonk (NED) won the women's skater race at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 40:59 minutes.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
5.) Amanal Petros finishes third at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 59:31 minutes, setting a new German record.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
6.) Esther Pfeiffer is the best German women at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 69:15 minutes.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
7.) Mathias Behr (GER) is the winner of the handbike competition at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 44:21 min.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
8.) Yvonne Pijahn (GER) siegt bei den Handbikern beim GENERALI BERLINER HALBMARATHON in 50:09 Min.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
9.) Thomas van Hulst (NED) gewinnt den GENERALI BERLINER HALBMARATHON der Rennrollstuhlfahrer in 56:11 Min.
Credit: SCC EVENTS/Jean-Marc Wiesner
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For questions and further information please contact:
Jochen Schmitz
Team Leader Media Relations & Editorial
SCC EVENTS
Tel. +49-173-9721150
medien@scc-events.com
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SCC EVENTS GmbH
Hanns-Braun-Straße/Adlerplatz
14053 Berlin
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Telefon: 030-301 288 10
Telefax: 030-301 288 20
website
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Managing Directors: Christian Jost, Jürgen Lock
Register court: AG Charlottenburg
Register number: HRB 20965 B
VAT No.: DE136599588
Responsible for the content according to § 18 Abs. 2 MStV:
Christian Jost, Jürgen Lock
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