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Kenya\u2019s Maru Thomas Kibet won the men\u2019s race with a personal best of 2:07:53 after some late drama. Godwin Katakura of Zimbabwe and Ethiopian Asnake Dubre took second and third with 2:08:46 and 2:10:22 respectively. Tom Thurley finished sixth and won the German title with 2:11:02.<\/strong><\/p>\n A record number of more than 6,000 marathon runners registered for the 34th edition of the ADAC Marathon Hannover. Adding races at shorter events staged during the weekend the entry total was almost 34,000.<\/p>\n In the men\u2019s race there was a dramatic late twist in the battle for victory. After running alone at the front for most of the race Godwin Katakura slowed dramatically with a few kilometres to go. Maru Thomas Kibet closed a significant gap, took the lead from Katakura with little over two kilometres left and went on to celebrate his biggest career win. \u201cI did not expect to win and had already settled for the runner-up position. This is a huge PB for me. In the future, I want to run 2:03,\u201d said Maru Thomas Kibet, who entered the race with a personal best of 2:13:48. Second-placed Katakura also improved his PB by several minutes.<\/p>\n Domenika Mayer runs European top time and smashes course record<\/strong><\/p>\n Germany\u2019s Domenika Mayer produced a commanding performance to take the ADAC Marathon Hannover with a course record time of 2:21:26 and won the national championship as well. Smashing her 2:23:16 PB she moved up to second in the German and eleventh in the European all-time list. It is the second fastest time of a European woman this year. Additionally Domenika Mayer became the first athlete to win the Hannover race for a fourth time. Fellow-German Fabienne K\u00f6nigstein was second in 2:24:31 while Almaz Negede of Ethiopia finished third with 2:30:25.<\/p>\n The anticipated duel between Domenika Mayer and Fabienne K\u00f6nigstein, who had a relatively short period to prepare due to an injury, did never materialize. Right from the start Domenika Mayer took the lead and the gap behind her kept growing. With a half marathon split of 70:31 the 35 year-old was almost a minute ahead of Fabienne K\u00f6nigstein (71:25), who was running her first race since her 2:22:17 PB in Berlin last September. In the final stages K\u00f6nigstein slowed and lost further ground. \u201cGiven the short preparation time I am happy with my race. I did not have any problems at all after the injury \u2013 that is great. Domenika was very strong today,\u201d said Fabienne K\u00f6nigstein, who now targets the European Championships\u2019 marathon in Birmingham this August.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI am really happy. The pace was a bit too fast in the early stages and you pay for that towards the end,\u201d said Domenika Mayer, who lost some time in the final kilometres. But with 2:21:26 she improved her personal best by almost two minutes and, in her fourth victory in Hanover following wins in 2022, 2024 and 2025, beat the course record she set two years ago (2:23:50) by almost two and a half minutes. She now ranks second in the European list for 2026. In Germany only national record holder Irina Mikitenko (2:19:19) is ahead of her. The 2:20 barrier could be the next target for Domenika Mayer. \u201cThere is still more to come. I have got my sights set on that mark. I am always trying to run faster and see what is possible. After all my time is limited \u2013 I am not 25 anymore,\u201d said Domenika Mayer.<\/p>\n After Johannes Motschmann dropped out at around 25 k due to groin problems the path to the national title was clear for Tom Thurley. The 32 year-old semi-professional clocked a personal best of 2:11:02. \u201cI had hoped it might work out this way \u2013 but a marathon is long, you never know what might happen. I am really happy,\u201d said Tom Thurley, who improved his PB by 17 seconds. \u201cMy goal is to run a time under 2:10:00. If I were given the chance to compete for the German team at the European Championships this summer, I would obviously take it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Results<\/strong>, Men:<\/p>\n LEADING RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n 42KM MEN<\/strong><\/p>\n LEADING RESULTS<\/strong><\/p>\n 42KM WOMEN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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