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2026 BMW Berlin Marathon

The Weekend Recovery: Assefa's Berlin Marathon, Cross Country Upsets

The Weekend Recovery: Assefa's Berlin Marathon, Cross Country Upsets

Tigst Assefa battled injury at a legendary Berlin Marathon and a pair of upsets headlined the 88th annual Cowboy Jamboree

Sep 28, 2026 by Mathias Cubillan
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Tigst Assefa Runs World Record At 2023 Berlin Marathon4:28

Between world record chases, the full swing of collegiate cross country and a massive upset in the high school ranks, there is a lot to get caught up on in this week’s edition of Weekend Recovery.

Here are our top five stories from the weekend.

5. Pasanjo Kitonga Leads New Mexico (FloTrack #7) To Upset Over No. 2 Oklahoma State

Heading into the 88th annual Cowboy Jamboree, host Oklahoma State was expected to roll to a victory. However, New Mexico, led by newcomer Pasanjo Kitonga, shocked the Cowboys by placing four Lobos in the top six finishers.

Kitonga, a 27-year-old freshman, clocked a 23:24.4 in the 8k – his first ever collegiate cross country race. The Kenyan competed in the 1500m and 3000m earlier this year on the track, notching season bests of 3:52.79 and 8:16.43, respectively.

Kitonga joined the Lobos as part of New Mexico’s continued efforts to recruit elite distance-running talent from overseas and to buoy the departure of Eritrean star Habtom Samuel. Collins Kiprotich, Evans Kiplagat and Joshua Abraham were the other Lobos to finish in the top six.

4. Noah Garcia Upsets Field At Desert Twilight

In a loaded field at the Desert Twilight XC Festival, it was an underdog from El Paso, Texas, who took home the glory. Noah Garcia, a junior from El Paso Eastwood, shocked the crowd to take the final race of the day under a starry night sky at the Toka Sticks Golf Course.

Yohanes Vanmeerten, Quinn Sullivan, Jay McDonald and 2025 Desert Twilight Champion Oliver Horton all took part in the festivities. The 5000m race began to take shape over the second mile, when a leading pack of Garcia, Horton and Vanmeerten. As they approached the final mile, Vanmeerten fell off the pace, and it became a dead sprint between Oliver and Garcia.

The final 800m went back and forth before Garcia edged out the former champ, winning with a  14:30.4 to top Horton’s time of 14:31.6. The win vaulted Garcia into the national conversation after topping some of the biggest names in high school cross country - he could now be a contender at the Brooks XC Championships later this season.

3. Billah Jepkirui And Maureen Cherotich Go 1-2 At Cowboy Jamboree

When two-time NCAA Champion Jane Hedengren comes to town, it takes something special to defend home turf. But, that’s exactly what Billah Jepkirui and teammate Maureen Cherotich did to go 1-2 individually.

Jepkirui started in 24th at the 1k split, but clawed her way through the crowd to put the victory within reach. She was launched into a wild kick during the final 1,000 meters, still behind Hedengren up until the final 200 where she pulled ahead. Jepkirui set the meeting and course record with a time of 19:24.4.

Cherotich finished as the runner-up to her teammate, but only one second off the previous meeting record with a time of 19:28.6. She improved her time on the course by 20 seconds as the Cowgirls finished second on the day.

2. Guye Adola Wins Berlin Marathon

Following the withdrawals of Sabastian Sawe and Kenenisa Bekele due to injuries, the men’s field at the 2026 Berlin Marathon was ripe for the taking. Guye Adola and Gabriel Geay were the prime candidates, both having found success on the Berlin streets before.

Nine years after his Berlin debut of 2:03:46, Adola spent the first part of his race slightly behind the front group of Geay and Getaneh Molla. He made his move soon after, pulling ahead to hit 1:41:18 at the 35k marker.

Adola strode to the finish with ease – almost 30 seconds ahead of second place with a 2:02:50 – and shaved 56 seconds off his debut time. Gemechu Dida surprisingly edged out Geay for second place, while the Tanzanian finished in third.

1. Tigst Assefa Battles Injury For Third-Fast Time Ever

Coming into the 2026 BMW Berlin Marathon, the expectations couldn’t have been higher for Tigst Assefa. The distance runner announced her attempt at the marathon world record, which she once held after setting the previous mark in Berlin.

Assefa needed to lower her time from 2:11:53, her previous record that she set in 2023, to 2:09:56, the controversial time set by Ruth Chepngetich.

At 35 kilometers, Assefa was well on pace for the record, with a 1:47:32 split keeping her on schedule for a comfortable world record win. However, Assefa began to visibly struggle with some discomfort. Through gritted teeth, Assefa’s pace slowed, and she hobbled to the finish line, missing out on the world record but still setting the No. 3 all-time mark and course record of 2:11:04.

After the race, it was revealed that Assefa has ruptured her right Achilles tendon and would need surgery ahead of a lengthy recovery, making her gutsy performance all the more legendary.

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