BERLIN -- Tigst Assefa wanted her world record back and was on course to smash it until cramps before the finish line dashed her hopes in the Berlin Marathon on Sunday.
The 29-year-old Assefa still ran the third-fastest time ever. She set a course record with a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, 4 seconds for her third Berlin Marathon win after 2022 and 2023.
Assefa set a world record with her time of 2:11:53 in Berlin in 2023, only for Ruth Chepng'etich to lower the mark by nearly 2 minutes to 2:09:56 in Chicago the following year.
Chepng'etich wasn't racing Sunday because she is serving a three-year ban for a doping violation. Her record still stands.
Assefa was well on course to beat Chepng'etich's time, reaching the 40-kilometer mark in 2:03:00, but the Ethiopian runner pulled up with cramps before reaching the Brandenburg Gate. She gritted her teeth and limped over the finish line, where she slumped to the ground and fought back tears.
Second-place Bedatu Hirpa was almost 6 minutes behind, followed by Dera Dida. Ethiopian runners took the top five places.
Guye Adola, another Ethiopian, won the men's marathon by crossing the line in 2:02:50. It was his second win in the German capital after his victory in 2021.
Gemechu Dida Diriba of Ethiopia was second in 2:03:19, followed by Gabriel Gerald Geay of Tanzania in 2:03:59.
World-record holder Sabastian Sawe was unable to take part because of an injury, but he was a guest of honor at the event.
Start times were brought forward Sunday because of high temperatures in last year's marathon. Conditions were almost perfect with autumn sunshine and little wind, though it was still warm.