Haftu Teklu defends the Seoul Marathon in 2:04:22 in the rain
Five men broke 2:04:36 from Gwanghwamun to the Olympic Stadium, and Haven Hailu Desse led an all-Ethiopian women's podium in 2:19:09.
Photograph: Haftu Teklu at the 2025 Berlin Marathon, by Leonhard Lenz, CC0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe Seoul Marathon, the 96th edition of the race once called the Dong-A Marathon, ran on Sunday from Gwanghwamun to the Olympic Stadium at Jamsil in grey drizzle, a sharp breeze and about 6 C. Around 40,000 people started. Haftu Teklu of Ethiopia, the defending champion, won again in 2:04:22, surging in the closing kilometres, with compatriot Getaneh Molla a second behind in 2:04:23.
The depth was unusual for a wet day. Gilbert Kibet of Kenya was third in 2:04:31, Tsegaye Getachew fourth in 2:04:32 and Sufaro Woliyi fifth in 2:04:35, four Ethiopians in the top five. Marathons.com reported Teklu's time as a course record and that four of the first five were under the old one.
Haven Hailu Desse took the women's race in 2:19:09. She took control just after 30 km and pulled away steadily. Bekelech Gudeta was second in 2:19:39 and Bosena Mulatie third in 2:19:47, an Ethiopian sweep, with Kenya's Joyce Chepkemoi Tele close behind in 2:19:50 and Tiruye Mesfin fifth in 2:20:45.
Seoul is a World Athletics Platinum Label race and the course is flat and quick. Park Min-ho and Jung Da-eun won the Korean national titles that ride on the race, the first since 2023 for both.
Five men inside 2:04:36 with rain on the road and a wind off the river. The Seoul course does not need good weather to be fast; it only needs runners who do not mind.
Sources: World Athletics; Marathons.com.
