Race report on the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON
Kiptoo and Amebaw triumph in Berlin, Petros breaks German record
Andrea Kiptoo and Likina Amebaw are the winners of the 45th GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. Kenyan Kiptoo became the surprise champion, when he took the highly competitive race in cold but sunny conditions in 59:11. Fellow-Kenyan Dennis Kipkemoi, who was a pacemaker, finished second with the same time. Amanal Petros took a strong third in 59:22, breaking his own German record. He was nine seconds faster than a year ago in Berlin when he was also third. Petros became the fourth fastest European half marathon runner. He was one of six athletes who broke national records in Berlin.
The fastest woman on the start list was also the first to cross the line: Ethiopian Likina Amebaw won in 65:07, the third-fastest time ever recorded at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. Kenyan Veronica Loleo took second in 65:21 ahead of her compatriot Daisilah Jerono (65:35). Esther Pfeiffer was the fastest German and fastest European finishing in a strong fifth place. She ran a personal best of 67:25 which is also a German lead.
Organisers registered a record number of 42,563 runners from 134 nations for the 45th edition of the race. 46 % of them were women, which is a record percentage as well. The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON is among the world’s biggest races over this distance.
The Men’s Race
After a thrilling race newcomer Andrea Kiptoo triumphed. The 24-year-old Kenyan ran only his third race outside Kenya. From the start Kiptoo was in the leading group which gradually shrunk. After a 15k split time of 41:55 two other runners were still alongside Kiptoo: his compatriot Michael Temoi, who was the fastest athlete on the start list with a personal best of 58:00, and the Swiss 10,000 m European Champion Dominic Lobalu. Temoi lost contact shortly later and then dropped out. Kiptoo then pulled away from Lobalu, but Dennis Kipkemoi surprisingly closed in from behind. The Kenyan was a pacemaker for Amanal Petros but felt so strong that he did not drop out. Instead he suddenly found himself fighting for victory. As a pacemaker Kipkemoi was suddenly fighting for victory, but in his first international race he was overwhelmed and hesitating in the sprint finish and ultimately finished behind Kiptoo. “It was a close race. I am happy with the win and the time,” said Andrea Kiptoo.
Amanal Petros ran in the leading group but dropped back after about five kilometers. However in the second half, he surged and moved up from tenth place to third. “It was cold and windy, so I slowed down until my body warmed up. I am very happy with the German record,” said Amanal Petros. National records were also set by France’s Etienne Daguinos, who finished fifth in 59:27, and Celestine Ndikumana (Burundi), was ninth in 60:23.
The Women’s Race
Unlike in the men’s race, the favourites prevailed in the women’s race. At the 10 k mark Likina Amebaw, Veronica Loleo, and Daisilah Jerono had already built a 47-second lead with a split time of 31:02. The pace picked up slightly in the second half and Likina Amebaw eventually pulled away. The 28-year-old Ethiopian celebrated the second major victory of her career at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON, having won the Copenhagen Half Marathon in 2025. “The competition was very strong, but I was confident that I would win,” said Likina Amebaw. National records were set in Berlin by fourth-place finisher Florence Niyonkuru (Rwanda/67:22), sixth-place finisher and European Half Marathon Champion Chloé Herbiet (Belgium/67:32), and Spain’s Carla Gallardo, who finished eighth in 68:30.
Esther Pfeiffer achieved the greatest success of her career in Berlin. The 28-year-old ran alongside Eva Dieterich (LAV Stadtwerke Tübingen) and Domenika Mayer (LG Telis Finanz Regensburg) in the early stages, but then pulled away decisively. Clocking 67:25 Esther Pfeiffer improved her previous PB by three seconds. “I have had two tough weeks because I had a cold. But now I am thrilled about the personal best,” said Esther Pfeiffer.
Eva Dieterich (LAV Stadtwerke Tübingen) ran a strong race, finishing seventh with a personal best of 67:56. Domenika Mayer (LG Telis Finanz Regensburg) followed in ninth place with a time of 68:35. Steeplechase specialist Gesa Krause (Silvesterlauf Trier) set a significant personal best with 68:59 in 13th position.
Handbikers and wheelchair athletes
In the handbike category, Mathias Behr from Germany won the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2026 with a time of 44:09 minutes. Yvonne Pijahn (GER) was the fastest woman among the handbikers, finishing in 49:31 minutes.
Amos Ruben Donath (GER, 56:24 min) is the winner of the wheelchair race at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2026; with this time, he also set a German junior record. Ireland’s Shauna Bocquet won the women’s wheelchair classification in 59:11 minutes.
