Rosemary Wanjiru's Nerve-Shredding Sprint Seals Dramatic Wins 2025 Berlin Marathon title

In a heart-stopping finale, Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru held off a charging Dera Dida to win the women's race at the Berlin Marathon by a mere three seconds, claiming a hard-fought victory in 2:21:05.

BERLIN – In a finish that will be replayed for years to come, Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya captured the 2025 Berlin Marathon title in a dramatic sprint down the final straightaway. Her winning time of 2:21:05 belied the incredible tension of the final kilometer, as she desperately clung to her lead against Ethiopia's Dera Dida, who closed with a furious charge.

Wanjiru, the 2023 Tokyo Marathon champion, made her decisive move after the 25-kilometer mark, breaking away from a lead pack that included pre-race favorites. She built a seemingly insurmountable lead, stretching it to 36 seconds over Azmera Gebru by the 40K mark. However, the warm and humid conditions took their toll in the final stages.

As Wanjiru's form tightened in the shadow of the Brandenburg Gate, Dida—who had moved into second—began a miraculous surge, erasing the massive deficit in the final mile. The stage was set for a breathtaking sprint finish. Digging deeper than ever before, Wanjiru found one final burst of speed to hold off Dida by a razor-thin margin of three seconds, collapsing in exhaustion and triumph after crossing the line.

2025 Berlin Marathon Results: Full Men's Women's Winners List with winning times.

Berlin Marathon 2025: Prize Money, Purse, How much winners will earn.

A Champion's Pedigree: Wanjiru's Journey to Berlin Glory

This victory marks a triumphant return to Berlin for Wanjiru, where she finished second in her marathon debut in 2022. It also cements her status as a global marathon force.

History in Berlin: First Kenyan woman to win the Berlin Marathon since 2018.

Elite Speed: With a personal best of 2:16:14, she is the tenth-fastest woman in history.

Major Marathon Pedigree: Adds Berlin to her 2023 Tokyo Marathon title.

A Tactical Battle in the Heat

The women's race was a game of tactics and survival. The unseasonably warm and muggy conditions (73°F / 23°C) played a role in the slower winning time, making Wanjiru's bold mid-race surge a high-risk, high-reward strategy that ultimately paid off.

Ethiopia's Dera Dida finished a heroic second in 2:21:08, while her compatriot Azmera Gebru rounded out the podium in third place (2:21:29).

What's Next for Rosemary Wanjiru?

This gutsy victory proves Wanjiru is not just a runner of incredible speed, but also of immense courage and heart. Fans are now eager to see if she will target a faster course on a cooler day to challenge her personal best and potentially move even higher up the list of the all-time greats.