Ethiopian Athlete Guye Adola Wins Berlin Marathon

Ethiopian athlete Guye Adola survived a midway comeback from race favourite Kenenisa Bekele and a late surge from Kenyan Bethwel Yegon to power to victory in an official time of two hours, five minutes and 45 seconds for the biggest win of his career in the Berlin marathon on Sunday.

Yegon finished in second place ahead of Bekele, who was competing for the first time in 18 months and struggled with a COVID-19 infection nine months ago, in third.

Adola, who was second in Berlin in 2017, was made to work very hard from the start as part of the leading group of runners who set off at a dizzying pace with Bekele, a multiple Olympic and world champion over 5,000 and 10,000 metres, in the lead.

In an Ethiopian treble, Gotytom Gebreslase won the women’s race in her debut marathon in two hours, 20 minutes and nine seconds, leaving Hiwot Gebrekidan in second place and Helen Tola in third.

• Read more: Sports Minister Celebrates D’Tigress Afrobasket Final Qualification