Azimeraw battles the heat to place seventh in Berlin

On a unseasonably hot autumn day Degitu Azimeraw was the pick of the NN Running Team athletes at the 2025 BMW Berlin Marathon, placing seventh in the women’s elite race.

The Ethiopian – who boasts a PB of 2:17:58 – struggled in the second half of the race but battled on valiantly in temperatures which soared to 24c to complete the distance in 2:23:02.

Victory went to Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya in 2:21:05 who held off the late-charging Ethiopian Dera Dida to win by a three-second margin.

Azimeraw, a former winner of both the Amsterdam and Barcelona Marathons, boasts a fine pedigree and was in contention with the leaders until just dropping off the pace  before halfway.

The 26-year-old Ethiopian went through some tough patches in the second half of the race but can be proud of a late rally in the final few kilometres.

There was disappointment in the men’s race for the NN Running Team duo; Daniel Mateiko and Haymanot Alew who both registered a DNF.

Mateiko and Alew – who placed third in the 2024 edition of the Berlin Marathon - were in the battle for a podium spot at halfway featuring as part of a four-strong group occupying third to sixth.

However, Alew slipped off the pace and did not complete the race, Mateiko, who finished third in the 2024 Valencia Marathon recording 2:04:24, sat third at 35km but also had to abandon attempts to complete the race.

Victory went to the dominant Sabastian Sawe, who registered the joint ninth fastest time in history in a swift 2:02:16. The Kenyan maintain his 100 percent record over the 42.2km distance following victories in the 2024 Valencia Marathon and 2025 London Marathon. Japan’s fast-finishing Akira Akasaki finished second in 2:06:15 with Chimdessa Debele of Ethiopia rounding out the top three in 2:06:57.