The streets of Hamburg transformed into a blur of speed and determination this past weekend as the 39th edition of the Haspa Marathon etched its name into the history books. Under perfect racing conditions, the elite athletes delivered performances for the ages, culminating in sensational course records in both the men's and women's races. Kenya's Amos Kipruto unleashed a breathtaking run, clocking a blistering 2:03:46 – the first sub-2:04 time ever witnessed on the Hamburg course. Not to be outdone, Ethiopia's Workenesh Edesa soared to victory in the women's race with a stunning 2:17:55, the second-fastest time ever recorded in the event. With multiple athletes shattering previous bests and a record number of participants hitting the pavement, the 2025 Hamburg Marathon was an undeniable spectacle of human endurance and athletic brilliance.
The men's race was a masterclass in strategic running and relentless pace. A formidable lead pack surged from the gun, hitting the 10k mark in a blistering 29:20 and reaching the halfway point in an astonishing 61:47 – well ahead of record pace. As the kilometers ticked by, the intensity only seemed to escalate. By the 30k mark (1:28:09), the relentless pace began to take its toll, causing the front group to splinter. In a display of camaraderie and shared ambition, close friends and roommates for the weekend, Amos Kipruto and Philemon Kiplimo, broke away alongside their fellow Kenyan, Erick Sang, and Felix Kibitok. However, Kibitok soon fell back, and Sang eventually lost touch shortly after the 35k mark, leaving Kipruto and Kiplimo to battle it out for the coveted title.
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"Philemon and I supported each other — that was the plan," revealed the victorious Kipruto. But in the final, grueling kilometers, Kipruto found an extra gear, surging clear of his compatriot to claim the sensational victory. Crossing the finish line in a record-shattering 2:03:46, the 32-year-old, with a personal best of 2:03:13, celebrated his third career sub-2:04 marathon. "The Hamburg Marathon is fantastic, and the spectators gave me great motivation. I'll definitely be back next year," a jubilant Kipruto declared. Kiplimo, pushing Kipruto all the way, also dipped under the previous course record, clocking an impressive 2:04:01. Erick Sang completed a dominant all-Kenyan podium, finishing strong in 2:04:30, showcasing the incredible depth of marathon talent in the East African nation.
Adding international flair to the top finishers, South Africa’s Elroy Gelant followed in a commendable fourth place, setting a new national record of 2:05:36. Germany's Richard Ringer, fueled by the enthusiastic home crowd, finished seventh as the fastest European in 2:07:23, marking the third-fastest marathon of his career and the fastest ever run by a German in Hamburg. Ringer admitted to an ambitious early pace, hitting 10k in 29:39, but despite slowing in the second half, his performance was a testament to his resilience.
The women's race was equally captivating, with five athletes setting an aggressive early pace, clearly targeting the course record of 2:17:23 set by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in 2022. By the halfway mark (68:39), a leading trio had emerged, comprising Kenya’s former world record holder Brigid Kosgei, Ethiopia’s Sichala Kumeshi, and the eventual champion, Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa. Kumeshi began to lose ground before the 25k mark, leaving Kosgei and Edesa to battle for the top spot.
Around the 35k mark, Edesa, who entered the race with a personal best of 2:18:51, made her decisive move. The Ethiopian runner displayed remarkable composure, having deliberately conserved energy in the early stages. "I deliberately didn't go too fast at the start," Edesa explained. "From 30k onwards, I knew I was going to win." Her strategy paid off handsomely as she surged ahead, shaving nearly a minute off her personal best and crossing the finish line in a stunning 2:17:55 – the second-fastest time ever recorded in the Hamburg Marathon. Brigid Kosgei, a true marathon legend, finished strong in a close second place with a time of 2:18:26, while Sichala Kumeshi secured the final podium spot in 2:19:53. Notably, for the first time in the history of the Hamburg Marathon, three women broke the coveted 2:20 barrier, highlighting the exceptional level of competition.
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However, there was disappointment for Norway’s Karoline Grovdal, who was forced to drop out before the 30k mark on her highly anticipated marathon debut. The reigning European half marathon champion had been on pace to challenge Ingrid Kristiansen’s Norwegian record (2:21:06) but was hampered by blisters resulting from early shoe issues.
With both the men's and women's winning times shattering records and multiple athletes achieving personal bests, the 39th edition of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg unequivocally became the fastest in its history. Race Director Frank Thaleiser expressed his delight, stating, "We are, of course, very happy with the course record and the three sub-2:20 times. These are stunning results. We've now seen course records in 2022, 2023, and 2025." The event's success extended beyond the elite field, with approximately 15,000 runners lining up for Germany’s biggest spring marathon, and weekend events across other distances pushing total entries past a record-breaking 38,000, underscoring the enduring popularity and growing appeal of the Hamburg Marathon on the global running calendar. The 2025 edition will undoubtedly be remembered as a landmark event, showcasing incredible athleticism and etching new benchmarks for future races.
