Editor’s Notes: He ADAC Hanover Marathon took place on April 13, 2026. Thanks to our media partners, Race Services, a media team focusing on German races and events in the Middle East (Dubai Marathon and RAK Half Marathon), we have the following coverage!
ADAC HANNOVER MARATHON:
Domenika Mayer sets the best European time and breaks the course record
Germany Domenica Mayer produced a commanding performance to take the ADAC Hannover Marathon with a record time of 2:21:26 and also won the national championship. Breaking his PB of 2:23:16, he rose to second place on the German list and eleventh on the European all-time list. It is the second best time of a European woman this year. In addition, Domenika Mayer became the first athlete to win the Hannover race four times. German classmate Fabienne Königstein came second in 2:24:31 while Almaz Negede from Ethiopia finished third with 2:30:25.
Kenya Maru Thomas Kibet won the men’s race in a personal best of 2:07:53 after some late drama. Godwin Katakura of Zimbabwe and Ethiopia’s Asnake Dubre took second and third place in 2:08:46 and 2:10:22, respectively. Tom Thurley He finished sixth and won the German title in 2:11:02.
A record number of more than 6,000 marathon runners registered for the 34th edition of the ADAC Marathon Hannover. Adding up the races in shorter events held over the weekend, the total entries were almost 34,000.
The expected duel between Domenika Mayer and Fabienne Königstein, who had little time to prepare due to injury, never materialized. From the beginning Domenika Mayer took the lead and the distance behind her grew. With a time of 70:31 in the half marathon, the 35-year-old was almost a minute ahead of Fabienne Königstein (71:25), who was running her first race since her best of 2:22:17 in Berlin last September. In the final stages, Königstein slowed down and lost ground. “Given the short preparation time, I am happy with my race. I didn’t have any problems after the injury, that’s great. Domenika was very strong today,” said Fabienne Königstein, who is now targeting the European Championship marathon in Birmingham in August.
“I’m very happy. The pace was too fast in the first stages and that pays off towards the end,” said Domenika Mayer, who lost some time in the last kilometers. But with 2:21:26 he improved his personal best by almost two minutes and, in his fourth victory in Hannover, after victories in 2022, 2024 and 2025, he surpassed the track record he set two years ago by almost two and a half minutes (2:23:50). She is now second on the European list for 2026. In Germany, she is only surpassed by national record holder Irina Mikitenko (2:19:19). The 2:20 barrier could be Domenika Mayer’s next goal. “There is still more to come. I have my sights set on that mark. I always try to run faster and see what is possible. After all, my time is limited, I am not 25 years old anymore,” said Domenika Mayer.
In the men’s race, there was a dramatic late turn in the battle for victory. After running alone at the front for most of the race, Godwin Katakura drastically slowed down with a few kilometers to go. Maru Thomas Kibet closed a significant gap, took the lead over Katakura with just over two kilometers remaining and celebrated the biggest victory of his career. “I didn’t expect to win and I had already settled for second place. This is a great personal best for me. In the future, I want to run 2:03,” said Maru Thomas Kibet, who entered the race with a personal best of 2:13:48. Second-placed Katakura also improved his personal best by several minutes.
After Johannes Motschmann retired around 25 km due to major problems, the path to the national title was clear for Tom Thurley. The 32-year-old semi-professional set a personal best of 2:11:02. “I was hoping it could work out this way, but a marathon is long, you never know what could happen. I’m very happy,” said Tom Thurley, who improved his PB by 17 seconds. “My goal is to achieve a time under 2:10:00. If I had the opportunity to compete with the German team at the European Championships this summer, I would obviously take it.”
Results,
Men:
1. Maru Thomas Kibet KEN 2:07:53
2. Godwin Katakura ZIM 2:08:46
3. Asnake Dubre ETH 2:10:22
4. Christopher Kitetu KEN 2:10:45
5. Archie Casteel SUE 2:10:56
6. Tom Thurley ALE 2:11:02
Women:
1. Domenika Mayer ALE 2:21:26
2. Fabienne Königstein Germany 2:24:31
3. Almaz Negede ETH 2:30:25
4. Cecilia Wayua KEN 2:30:36
5. Katharina Saathoff ALE 2:30:51
6. Mercy Kipkemoi KEN 2:31:48
More information about the ADAC Marathon Hannover is available at: www.marathon-hannover.de
