Berhanu: I am going for the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025 course record
Minsewo ready to run faster than the 2:26:06 lifetime best she ran to win last year
Ethiopia’s Hayle Lemi Berhanu says he is not only going for a hat-trick of wins at but also wants to set a new course record at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2025, a World Athletics Gold Label Race, scheduled for Sunday, 19th January.
The 30 year old, 2016 Boston Marathon winner won in India in 2023 and 2024 and was close to breaking the 2:07:32 he set to win in 2023.
The Ethiopian, with a 2:04:33 life time best he set in 2016, however believes he can achieve that early next year, especially with the challenge he is going to get from his country-mates Asrar Aberrehman Hiyrden (2:04:43) and Bazezew Asmare (2:04:57) with super-fast timings logged in recent years.
Talking about his preparations for the 2025 edition of the TMM, Berhanu said, ‘Last year I was really close to the course record. The crowd support along the course was great. I missed improving the course record in 2024, but I will try my best to make it this time. I am confident in having a shot at it.’
The women’s side looks even more competitive for reigning champion Aberash Minsewo and 2017 World U18 3000m champion.
The Ethiopian, who clocked 2:26:06 to win here on her debut in 2024, which remained her only marathon race, will expect tough competition from more than a dozen runners with superior marks achieved elsewhere.
Only two women runners from her country, Mulu Seboka and Dinknesh Mekash, logged more than one win in Mumbai.
From the previous appearances, 2016 winner Shuko Genemo (who finished third two years later) and Feyisa Adanech Anbesa (tenth in 2023) are returning to Mumbai roads.
Kenyan Joyce Tele, who clocked an impressive 2:20:17 on her maiden marathon to win in Ljubljana (Slovakia) earlier this year, and Shitaye Eshete with 2:21:33 logged in the same city during 2019, will be the main contenders for the top spot.
Genemo timed 2:21:35 for a silver spot earlier this year in Barcelona and finished third in Frankfurt thereafter on her 2024 campaign, joining the fray to challenge Minsewo.
Ethiopians also field stronger runners in Tigist Getnet (2:23:17 Dubai 2023), Feyisa Adanech (2:24:07 Paris 2022) and Asimarech Naga (2:24:13 Dublin 2024) to make the race interesting.
Minsewo revealed, ‘I was happy to win my first-ever marathon title on debut. Mumbai is a lucky place, and I have not run any marathons elsewhere thereafter. With a strong field entered in 2025, I am confident of improving my performance and retaining the title’.
The Tata Mumbai Marathon is one of the designated marathon races to qualify for the World Championships, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan, in September 2025.
