Workenesh Edesa, a renowned Ethiopian marathoner, is set to lead an elite field at the 2025 Haspa Marathon Hamburg on 27th April. With an impressive personal best of 2:18:51, Edesa is part of a group of fast Ethiopian athletes, while Norway’s Karoline Grovdal, the European Half Marathon Champion, will make her marathon debut at this event. The 39th edition of the Haspa Marathon Hamburg has attracted over 15,000 registered runners, making it Germany’s largest spring marathon.
Edesa, aged 32, has left a mark in the marathon scene with her exceptional performances. She achieved her personal best at the Osaka Marathon in 2024, setting a course record. In January of the current year, she defended her title at the Osaka Marathon with a time of 2:21:00. Trained by Gemedu Dedefo in Addis Ababa, Edesa is part of a formidable marathon training group, with three other Ethiopian women also showcasing impressive personal bests ranging from 2:20 to 2:21.
Etagegn Woldu, Waganesh Mekesha, and Sichala Kumeshi are among the Ethiopian athletes ready to compete at the Haspa Marathon Hamburg. Woldu narrowly missed breaking the 2:20 barrier in Valencia in 2022, while Mekesha achieved a personal best of 2:20:44 at the Toronto Marathon. Kumeshi made a significant leap in performance by winning the Houston Marathon in January with a time of 2:20:42. The women’s start list also features Grovdal, who has had a remarkable run of achievements, including victories at the European Cross Country Championships and the European Half Marathon Championships.
Grovdal’s successful 2024 campaign saw her clinch the European Half Marathon title in Rome and achieve a half marathon personal best of 66:55 in Copenhagen. Her recent performance at the New York Half Marathon indicates her potential to excel in her marathon debut. Despite finishing seventh, Grovdal remains optimistic about her marathon career, expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming race in Hamburg.
The inclusion of such elite athletes in the Haspa Marathon Hamburg underscores the event’s growing prestige and appeal in the international marathon circuit. With Edesa and Grovdal leading the charge, the 2025 edition promises to deliver thrilling competition and potentially record-breaking performances. As the marathon season unfolds, all eyes will be on Hamburg to witness the culmination of months of training and dedication from these world-class runners.
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