Despite the Drama, Berlin’s Future Looks Bright
The world record was surely going to be broken when Tigst Assefa approached the 40k mark on Sunday, however disaster struck and an Achilles tendon injury prevented the Ethiopian from breaking the mark for a second time. Another dramatic chapter was added to the illustrious history of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON that will stay in mind for a long time. Albeit this is one that first of all Tigst Assefa but also the organisers and all others connected to the athlete and the race could have done without. However elite sport can be cruel and some drama has always been part of the marathon, more so than in almost any other event.
Despite the shock so close to glory and the cancellation due to an injury by Kenya’s superstar, defending champion and world record holder Sabastian Sawe a few weeks before the race, Berlin did witness another tremendous marathon of the highest quality. Limping across the finish line Tigst Assefa still set a course record and with 2:11:04 clocked the third-fastest time ever run. Adding the impressive 2:02:50 winning time of Ethiopia’s Guye Adola’s that makes a total of 4:13:54. In this ranking the 52nd BMW BERLIN-MARATHON was the second-fastest marathon of all time, despite all the adversity.
Had neither Sabastian Sawe nor Tigst Assefa been injured, this BMW BERLIN-MARATHON could have been an incredible spectacle in terms of top-class sport. But it was not to be this year. One thing became clear once again on Sunday: Berlin provides the perfect stage for extraordinary marathon performances.
So it was a very mixed bag of emotions for Race Director Mark Milde, who is responsible for the elite field in Berlin. “Life goes on. We will give it another go next year and tell ourselves: we will come back stronger,” said Mark Milde. “There were also some very strong performances on Sunday.”
Mark Milde can certainly continue to rely on what is currently the world’s strongest marathon training group. On Sunday the winner Tigst Assefa, the third-placed runner Dera Dida, the men’s winner Guye Adola and the runner-up Gemechu Dida all came from this group, which is coached in Addis Ababa by Gemedu Dedefo.
Berlin is in a great position here as adidas is not only the traditional sports sponsor of Germany’s largest marathon but also the kit supplier and sponsor of the management group led by the Italian Gianni Demadonna and his partners Eric Lilot and Monica Pont Chafer. The athletes managed by those three are also those who train under Gemedu Dedefo.
In Kenya meanwhile, the management trio’s training camp in Kapsabet is run by Claudio Berardelli. Among others, the Italian coaches Sabastian Sawe.
There are strong indications that the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON continues to have a bright future – and eventually, the necessary bit of luck will come its way again.
