Berlin
Defending champion and world record holder Sebastian Sawe has withdrawn from next month’s BMW Berlin Marathon due to an injury, shifting the event's world-record spotlight entirely onto Tigst Assefa and the elite women’s field for the September 27 race.
Sawe, who shocked the sports world earlier this year by running an unprecedented 1:59:30 in London, expressed deep disappointment over missing his title defense.
"It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you I am forced to withdraw from the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON due to an injury," Sawe said in a statement released by the World Marathon Majors. "I had been looking forward to achieving something special on the streets of Berlin and crossing the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate."
With Sebastian Sawe sidelined, Berlin's primary hopes for a historic world-record performance now rest on Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa. (Photo / World Marathon Majors)
With Sawe sidelined, Berlin's primary hopes for a historic world-record performance now rest on Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa, who had earmarked the fast German course for a dedicated tilt at a record time. In the men's division, the wide-open battle for the title will now feature Tanzania’s national record holder Gabriel Geay (2:03:00) and Ethiopia’s 2021 Berlin champion Guye Adola, who recently won the Rotterdam Marathon in 2:03:54. Around 60,000 athletes from 160 countries are expected to compete.
More updates to follow...
