Deribe Robi heads the men’s start list of the ADAC Marathon Hannover with a personal best of 2:05:58. The 35 year-old could produce a rare Ethiopian victory in Hannover. In the past 33 editions of the race, which has a very flat course, there was only one male winner from Ethiopia so far: Seboka Negussa crossed the line first in 2018 with 2:09:44. A German victory looks likely in the women’s race. Fabienne Königstein and three-time Hannover champion Domenika Mayer will face each other once again and this time it is also about the national title. Seven months ago both of them produced strong performances and clocked personal bests at the Berlin Marathon. In very warm weather conditions Königstein ran 2:22:17 and Mayer followed with 2:23:16.
A record total of almost 34,000 athletes have entered the 34th edition of the ADAC Marathon Hannover. It is the first time that organisers registered more than 33,000 entries for their event. While this figure includes races at shorter distances staged parallel during the weekend there are more than 6,000 marathon runners, which is a record as well. The ADAC Marathon Hannover is a World Athletics Label Race and includes the German Championships. “We are thrilled with the unprecedented surge of entries. I am especially happy with the strong development of the marathon. Step by step we intend to grow further,“ said Race Director Stefanie Eichel.
Deribe Robi’s personal record of 2:05:58 is seven seconds faster than Hannover’s course record set by Germany’s Amanal Petros two years ago (2:06:05). While the Ethopian was not able to achieve times near to his PB for a while he did produce solid performances. Robi was the winner of the Venice Marathon in October with 2:08:58 and then ran ten seconds faster at the Dubai Marathon in earlier this year. A highly experienced marathon runner Robi never competed at any other distance internationally.
Mohcin Outalha of Morocco and Unganda’s Ben Somikwo might challenge Deribe Robi. They have personal bests of 2:06:49 and 2:08:03 respectively. Archie Casteel of Sweden is the fastest European athlete on the start list with a PB of 2:10:06. After the late withdrawal of Filimon Abraham (PB: 2:08:11) because of an injury Johannes Motschmann is now the firm favourite in the race for the national title. He has a PB of 2:10:39. Tom Thurley, who improved significantly to 2:11:19 in Frankfurt in October, could produce a surprise.
It could well be the women who produce the standout performance on Sunday. If weather conditions are suitable Domenika Mayer targets a personal best. “I am looking forward to running in Hannover again. It could become quite a thrilling race. My main goal is to improve my PB,“ said Domenika Mayer, who returns to her favourite spring marathon. The 35 year-old has already won the ADAC Marathon Hannover three times. She surprised with a debut win here in 2022 and then took successive titles in 2024 and 2025.
While Domenika Mayer was in fine form recently and ran a half marathon PB of 68:08 in Barcelona this February it was very different for Fabienne Königstein. Injury hampered her preparations and the ADAC Marathon Hannover will actually be her first race since running a huge 2:22:17 PB in Berlin last September. “After Berlin I was injured for some time, but I managed to be ready for Hannover. I don’t expect to run as fast as in Berlin but my form is not bad,“ said the 33 year-old. Laura Hottenrott is another German top runner. She has a PB of 2:24:32 from 2023. While a national victory looks very likely two African runners could do well: Ethiopia’s Almaz Negede has a PB of 2:27:14 and Peris Jerono of Kenya has run 2:28:27. Hungary’s Lili Anna Vindics-Toth is the fastest non-German European entrant with 2:28:15.
Elite runners with personal bests
MEN:
Deribe Robi ETH 2:05:58
Mohcin Outalha MAR 2:06:49
Ben Somikwo UGA 2:08:03
Archie Casteel SWE 2:10:06
Johannes Motschmann GER 2:10:39
Godwin Katakura ZIM 2:11:02
Tom Thurley GER 2:11:19
Erik Hille GER 2:12:06
Hlynur Andrésson ISL 2:13:17
WOMEN:
Fabienne Königstein GER 2:22:17
Domenika Mayer GER 2:23:16
Laura Hottenrott GER 2:24:32
Almaz Negede ETH 2:27:14
Lili Anna Vindics-Toth HUN 2:28:15
Peris Jerono KEN 2:28:27
Thea Heim GER 2:33:20
Lisa Huwatscheck GER 2:33:23
More information about the ADAC Marathon Hannover is available at: www.marathon-hannover.de
Please note: You may use the attached photo, showing Johannes Motschmann, Domenika Mayer, Laura Hottenrott and Fabienne Königstein, during today’s press conference, only in conjunction with this press release. Credit essential: Norbert Wilhelmi / Organiser
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