Celebrating 50 Years: Berlin Marathon Promises Elite Competition and World-Class Performances

Friday, 27 September 2024

The stage is set for a historic race this Sunday as the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON celebrates its 50th edition. A record-breaking 58,212 runners from 161 countries have registered to participate, and the elite field promises a spectacle of world-class performances. The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is not only the premier running event in the German-speaking world but also one of the most prestigious marathons globally.

Since 2015, only three men have triumphed at this event: Eliud Kipchoge, who has claimed four titles, including two world records; Kenenisa Bekele, with two victories; and Guye Adola, who won once. This year, the anniversary race is set to crown a new champion, as the competition is fiercer than ever. Fourteen athletes have personal bests under 2:06, making this the most competitive men's field in the event's history.

Five of these runners have dipped under 2:05. Tadese Takele, last year’s third-place finisher, returns to Berlin with a personal best of 2:03:24, the fastest time on this year's start list. Despite recent injuries, the Ethiopian is confident: “I’ve trained well and expect to run a strong race,” he said. He will face tough competition from Kenyans Cybrian Kotut (2:04:34) and Kibiwott Kandie (2:04:48), as well as Ethiopians Hailemaryam Kiros (2:04:41) and Bazezew Asmare (2:04:57).

Kibiwott Kandie, former world record holder in the half marathon with a time of 57:32, could be the standout performer. Despite missing the press conference due to a delayed flight, he received high praise from Paul Tergat, a fellow Kenyan and former world record holder in Berlin: “I know him well; he has great potential and is still young. Berlin is a very fast course, and I hope he will perform well.”

Potential surprise winners include Kenyans Samwel Mailu and Stephen Kiprop. Mailu shattered the Vienna City Marathon course record last year with a time of 2:05:08, while Kiprop won the Daegu Marathon this year in 2:07:04. Kiprop, who has battled injuries for years, is now fit and ready to compete at the highest level again.

Germany will also be well-represented. Hendrik Pfeiffer, who placed third in Houston earlier this year with a personal best of 2:07:14, leads a strong German contingent. “I’ve prepared well and aim to break 2:07,” said Pfeiffer. He is joined by Filimon Abraham (2:08:22), Haftom Welday (2:08:24), Sebastian Hendel (2:08:51), and Johannes Motschmann (2:10:39). It’s the first time that four German men with sub-2:09 times will compete in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON.

The event also celebrated four legendary marathoners at the pre-race press conference: Naoko Takahashi, Paul Tergat, Irina Mikitenko, and Tigst Assefa. In 2001, Takahashi became the first woman to break 2:20, running 2:19:46. “It felt like achieving the impossible,” she recalled. Tergat was the first man to break 2:05, clocking 2:04:55 in 2003. “Berlin will always be a significant part of my history,” he said.

Irina Mikitenko, who debuted in Berlin and set a German record of 2:19:19 in 2008, described Berlin as the perfect place to start a marathon career. “Now, the best women are running 2:11, which was unimaginable then,” she noted. Tigst Assefa, who set the women’s world record with 2:11:53, aims to return next year: “I surprised myself but knew I had trained for it. I hope to make history again in Berlin.”

As the runners take their positions for this momentous race, the anticipation for record-breaking performances and unforgettable moments is palpable.

Elite Men for the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:

Tadese Takele ETH 2:03:24
Cybrian Kotut KEN 2:04:34
Hailemaryam Kiros ETH 2:04:41
Kibiwott Kandie KEN 2:04:48
Bazezew Asmare ETH 2:04:57
Samwel Mailu KEN 2:05:08
Milkesa Mengesha ETH 2:05:29
Haymanot Alew ETH 2:05:30
Philimon Kipchumba KEN 2:05:35
Josphat Boit KEN 2:05:42
Dejene Megersa ETH 2:05:42
Enock Onchari KEN 2:05:47
Oqbe Ruesom ERI 2:05:51
Justus Kangogo KEN 2:05:57
Haimro Alame ISR 2:06:04
Ashenafi Moges ETH 2:06:12
Asbel Rutto KEN 2:07:04
Samuel Tsegay SWE 2:06:53
Yohei Ikeda JPN 2:06:53
Stephen Kiprop KEN 2:07:04
Hendrik Pfeiffer GER 2:07:14
Kento Kikutani JPN 2:07:26
Melaku Belachew ETH 2:07:28
Godadaw Belachew ISR 2:07:45
Yuhei Urano JPN 2:07:52
Guojian Dong CHN 2:08:12
Filimon Abraham GER 2:08:22
Haftom Welday GER 2:08:24
Sebastian Hendel GER 2:08:51
Olonbayar Jamsran MGL 2:08:58
Haftamu Gebresilase ETH Debut

More information is available online at: www.berlin-marathon.com