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Tokyo Olympic 10,0000m champion Selemon Barega from Ethiopia won the 2025 40th edition of the Seville Marathon on Sunday. It was his debut at the distance.

Barega stopped the clock at 2:05:13.

Taking second place was fellow Ethiopian Adisu Tesfahun, who finished in 2:06:27. Moroccan Mohamed Reda took third place is credited with the same time of 2:06:27.

As anticipated, Barega had to fight of the competition, which included Eritrean runners Goitom Kifle and Okubay Tsegay, as well as Ghirmay Ghebreslassie. Ghebreslassie, the 2015 world marathon champion in Beijing, was one of only three entrants with a personal best under 2:06. The Eritreans were attempting to break Ethiopia’s dominance as the Seville winners have been Ethiopian for four consecutive years. They came close, but Barega was just too strong.

Spain’s Ilias Fifa, the 2016 European 5000m champion and the recent national record holder for 10km on the road with his 27:41, set in Valencia, was the first domestic athlete to cross the finish line. He completed the race in 2:10:10.

Barega has been a world-class 5000m and 10,000m runner from 2017 and 2019, respectively, repeatedly running sub-13 and sub-27 in the Diamond League at global championship events. He owns a 5000m silver and 10,000m bronze from the 2019 Doha and 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships. Twice, Barega finished fifth at the World Cross Country Championships. The move to the marathon at age 25 was a natural progression. As it went, his likely ability in the marathon would be presented in the half marathon when in 2023 he ran 57:50, just 29 seconds off the world record.

Women

In the women’s race, Ethiopian Anchinalu Dessie Genaneh ran well to win in a time of 2:22:17. France’s Manon Trapp was not far behind, securing second place in 2:23:38, while Kenya’s Cynthia Chepchirchir Kosgei took third with a time of 2:23:43.

The depth of the women’s race was not quite as deep as the men’s; however, 10 women ran under 2:28:00, leading over 14,000 runners across the line.

For the 22-year-old Genaneh it was also her debut at the distance. For the 24-year-old Trapp, she set a national record with that performance. Meanwhile, Kosgei is a veteran, who has run several sub 2:28:00 marathon; Seville 2025 is her new personal best.

Top 10 results

Mens

  1. Selemon Barega Shirtaga – 2:05:15
  2. Adisu Tesfahun Tafere – 2:06:27
  3. Mohamed Reda El Aaraby – 2:06:45
  4. Matthias Kyburz – 2:06:48
  5. Shumi Dechasa Leche – 2:06:56
  6. El Mahjoub Dazza – 2:06:58
  7. Belay Tilahun Bezabh – 2:06:58
  8. Felix Bour – 2:07:03
  9. Koen Naert – 2:07:18
  10. Mathew Samperu – 2:07:25

Women

  1. Anchinalu Dessie Genaneh – 2:22:17
  2. Manon Trapp – 2:23:38
  3. Cynthia Chepchirchir Kosgei – 2:23:43
  4. Kaoutar Boulaid – 2:24:05
  5. Tigist Gezahagn Mengistu – 2:24:25
  6. Kaoutar Farkoussi – 2:25:20
  7. Meritxell Soler – 2:26:05
  8. Melody Julien – 2:26:44
  9. Dalila Abdulkadir Gosa – 2:27:00
  10. Sheyla Eulogio – 2:27:52

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