BERLIN (AP) — Sabastian Sawe of Kenya finished far ahead of his rivals to win the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, when unseasonable warmth thwarted his effort to break the course record.
The 29-year-old Sawe finished in a year’s best time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 16 seconds – four minutes ahead of Japan’s Akira Akasaki and more than 4½ minutes ahead of Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele.
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Competitors run in the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Competitors start in the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Japan's Akira Akasaki crosses the finish line to finish second in the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Kenya's Sebastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Kenya's Sebastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
“I did my best,” Sawe said. “I’m so happy.”
Sawe’s compatriot Rosemary Wanjiru won the women’s race in 2:21:05, just ahead of Ethiopia’s Dera Dida.
Sawe looked exhausted as the top three were presented with giant alcohol-free beers during their award ceremony.
He had been targeting Eliud Kipchoge’s course record of 2:01:09 from 2022, a world record at the time. Kelvin Kiptum’s time of 2:00:35 from the 2023 Chicago Marathon is still the world's best. Kiptum was killed in a car crash in February 2024.
On Sunday, temperatures climbed to 24 degrees Celsius (75.2 Fahrenheit) as summer made an unexpected return to the German capital.
“You can’t do anything about the weather. I was ready for everything,” said Sawe, who said he’d be back next year.
It was already 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 Fahrenheit) when Sawe and the other elite runners made a blistering start, completing the first kilometer faster than any of their predecessors in just 2:44.
Sawe quickly dropped his rivals – and some of his pacemakers. Only two remained when he completed the half marathon in 1:00:16. Soon, Sawe was alone but for the crowds cheering him on with no pacemakers for the last 19 kilometers. But his pace dropped as the temperature climbed and it became apparent after 35 kilometers that the world record and course records would survive for another day.
Security was increased for the race with more than 800 police officers working around the course and stewards on bicycles staying close to the leading runners to shield them from any unwanted interruptions.
The Spanish Vuelta cycling race was repeatedly disrupted by protests against an Israeli-backed team from taking part, and the marathon was previously the target for environmental campaigners because of its sponsorship by the automobile manufacturer BMW.
Some 55,000 runners started Sunday’s race.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports
Competitors run in the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Competitors start in the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Japan's Akira Akasaki crosses the finish line to finish second in the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Kenya's Sebastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Kenya's Sebastian Sawe crosses the finish line to win the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept.21, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
PARIS (AP) — Lens has gone from surprise front runner to serious title contender in Ligue 1.
Despite having modest resources, coach Pierre Sage has done remarkably well to keep his side ahead of defending champion Paris Saint-Germain.
Cash-rich PSG clinched a record-extending 13th league title last season while Lens won its only title in 1998. But Lens pushed PSG close in 2022-23 and finished runner-up by one point.
Lens is one point ahead of PSG this season and eight clear of third-place Marseille going into this weekend's 18th round.
Sage’s side will be confident of a club record-extending 10th straight win in all competitions when it hosts next-to-last Auxerre on Saturday.
Excellent teamwork and a strong defense are hallmarks of Lens which has five clean sheets in the past nine games.
PSG has a tricky home match against fourth-placed Lille on Friday at Parc des Princes, just days after being knocked out of the French Cup at home by capital city rival Paris FC.
Inconsistent Marseille is at mid-table Angers on Saturday and can ill afford to drop any points with Lille level on points.
Erratic Monaco has tumbled to mid-table and needs to bounce back with a home win against Lorient on Friday.
Lyon fans will be hoping to see Brazil forward Endrick in action at home to Brest on Sunday.
Endrick is on loan from Real Madrid until the end of the season and scored on his club debut in the French Cup on Sunday.
After missing 14 games due to a shoulder injury, Marseille forward Amine Gouiri is finding form. He scored twice and provided one assist in a 9-0 French Cup win on Tuesday.
Nantes has earned a reputation for having a strong youth academy and Tylel Tati is the latest product. The 17-year-old central defender looked assured in a 2-0 win at Marseille and looks set to feature at home to Paris FC on Sunday.
Paris FC forward Jonathan Ikoné's neat finish knocked titleholder PSG — his former club — out of the French Cup. Ikoné has yet to score in the league.
Paul Pogba's move to Monaco is not working out as hoped and the former France midfield star remains sidelined by a calf injury.
The 2018 World Cup winner has also dealt with thigh and ankle problems since joining the club in the offseason, after more than two years out of the game in a career derailed by injuries, off-field problems and a doping ban.
Pogba hoped to relaunch his career in time to make France's squad for the World Cup but has so far played only 30 minutes in three substitute appearances.
Monaco's long injury list includes defender Mohammed Salisu (ACL), winger Ansu Fati (hamstring), goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky (knee) and winger Takumi Minamino (ACL).
Forwards Jérémie Boga and Terem Moffi are reportedly trying to terminate their contracts with Nice after being attacked by their own supporters following a game on Nov. 30.
After a 3-1 defeat at Lorient made it six straight losses, Nice players were confronted by a large number of angry Nice fans when they returned to the club’s training and academy center.
Boga and Moffi took blows to the head and groin and have since been on medical leave. According to sports daily L'Équipe, their case is being examined by the French league legal committee.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone, left, celebrates with Christian Kouame after scoring the 2-0 goal during the Europa Conference League opening phase soccer match between Fiorentina and LASK at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP, File)
FILE - Monaco's Paul Pogba stands on the touchline as players warm-up before a Champions League opening phase soccer match between Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur in Monaco, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni, file)
Marseille's Amine Gouiri, right, and PSG's Marquinhos, left. battle for the ball during the French Super Cup soccer match between PSG and Marseille in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jaber Abdulkhaleg)
PSG's head coach Luis Enrique gives instructions during the French Ligue 1 soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Paris FC in Paris, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
FILE - Lens' head coach Pierre Sage celebrates with players after the French League One soccer match between Lens and Marseille in Lens, France, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias, File)
