Benard Biwott won the men’s field of the Paris Marathon on Sunday in 2:05:25 — a personal best — while Bedatu Hirpa surged late to win the women’s race in 2:20:45.
Biwott made a decisive move just after mile 20 and commanded the remainder of the race. Ibrahim Hassan was second in 2:06:13 and Sila Kiptoo finished third in 2:06:21. Biwott’s win did not threaten Elisha Rotich’s 2:04:21 course record from 2021, but he did cross the line eight seconds quicker than last year’s winner Mulugeta Uma.
“I’m really happy with the win”, Biwott said after the race. “I pushed hard all the way and I’m really pleased with my time. It was very tough, but I gave it everything I had.”
Biwott is a relative newcomer at the distance and won his debut in Frankfurt last October.
In the women’s race, Hirpa needed nearly all of the course to take the win and slipped by Dera Dida by just four seconds. Dida finsihed in 2:20:49 and Angela Tanui was third in 2:21:07.
“I roared as I went over the finish line because I really wanted to win the Marathon de Paris,” Hirpa said. “I was over the moon and wanted to express just how happy I was. It was a tough race, but victory washes away the suffering.”
Hirpa’s victory over Dida played out just like January’s Dubai Marathon with, Hirpa bolting to the finish and Dida settling for being the runner up.
Race organizers also announced that Sunday’s race has now claimed the title of world largest marathon with 56,950 participants hitting the streets of Paris.
The Berlin Marathon grabbed the crown last September with 54,154 finishers and was later surpassed by the New York City Marathon just weeks later with 55,646 competitors last November.
Paris Marathon 2025 results (top 10 finishers):
Men’s elite field
1. Benard Biwott (Kenya) – 2:05:25
2. Ibrahim Hassan (Djibouti) – 2:06:13
3. Sila Kiptoo (Kenya) – 2:06:21
4. Enock Kinyamal (Kenya) – 2:06:32
5. Dominic Ngeno (Kenya) – 2:06:37
6. Dinkalem Ayele (Ethiopia) – 2:07:54
7. Tsedat Ayana (Ethiopia) – 2:08:19
8. Edwin Kibichiy (Kenya) – 2:08:29
9. Timothy Kibet (Kenya) – 2:08:38
10. Hailu Zewdu (Ethiopia) – 2:09:03
Women’s elite field
1. Bedatu Hirpa (Ethiopia) – 2:20:45
2. Dera Dida (Ethiopia) – 2:20:49
3. Angela Tanui (Kenya) – 2:21:07
4. Magdalena Shauri (Tanzania) – 2:21:31
5. Kasanesh Baze (Ethiopia) – 2:24:35
6. Janet Ruguru (Kenya) – 2:24:36
7. Kidsan Alema (Ethiopia) – 2:25:22
8. Judit Jeptum (Kenya) – 2:25:30
9. Agnes Keino (Kenya) – 2:26:09
10. Zerihun Alemtsehay (Ethiopia) – 2:27:39
