The historic occasion which attracts athletes in quest of quick instances will take to the roads on Sunday as Calli Hauger-Thackery leads the Brits
The BMW Berlin Marathon is celebrating it’s fiftieth 12 months this weekend after establishing itself as a basis occasion within the marathon world, attracting runners from far and extensive with its record-breaking performances.
A memorable second within the marathon’s historical past of 13 world data occurred in 2018 when Eliud Kipchoge turned the primary man to interrupt the two:02:00 barrier, finishing the race in 2:01:39.
The Kenyan returned in 2022 to as soon as once more push the boundaries and shaved off 30 seconds from his personal file to complete in 2:01:09 – which is now the second quickest time in historical past behind Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 set in Chicago.
Final 12 months, historical past was made as soon as once more when Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa obliterated the ladies’s world file with 2:11:53, setting the bar extraordinarily excessive.
Eliud Kipchoge (Getty)
With Kipchoge absent this 12 months after back-to-back victories, the boys’s race opens as much as new prospects. Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele enters because the quickest runner on paper, boasting a private greatest of two:03:24.
Having completed third final 12 months, he returns with the intention of securing victory in a area the place 14 athletes have already run below 2:06:00, promising a extremely aggressive race which begins at Brandenburg Gate.
One other potential runner is Kenya’s Kibiwott Kandie. The previous half-marathon world record-holder (57:32) holds a marathon greatest of two:04:48 and will probably be chasing his first main win over the space.
With no British set to compete within the elite males’s part this 12 months, Germany’s Hendrik Pfeiffer leads a gaggle of robust home runners having improved to 2:07:14 earlier this 12 months in Houston.
When it comes right down to the ladies’s race all eyes will probably be on Ethiopia’s Tigist Ketema, coaching companion of Assefa.
Tigist Ketema (Colombo)
In her marathon debut this January, she clocked a powerful 2:16:07 in Dubai, making her the ninth-fastest marathon runner ever. As she appears to enhance on reducing her time even additional, coaching alongside world record-holder, Assefa will probably be of big profit.
“I’ve ready to run a private greatest and plan to run the primary half on Sunday in round 68 minutes,” stated Ketema. “I hope it gained’t be too chilly since I run higher in hotter circumstances.
“Earlier than Dubai I used to be definitely apprehensive concerning the distance however afterwards I requested myself, why was that?”
One other outstanding title is Genzebe Dibaba, the previous 1500m world record-holder with 3:50.07 from 2015.
Since switching to marathon working, Dibaba posted a debut time of two:18:05 in Amsterdam two years in the past. This will probably be her first time racing in Berlin, and her background in middle-distance working provides intrigue to her efficiency.
“I’ve seen on TV how Haile Gebrselassie broke two world data in Berlin. Since then I’ve all the time needed to run right here and now I’ve the prospect,” stated Dibaba. “Success for me would imply breaking my private greatest.”
Calli Hauger-Thackery will lead the British ladies with a greatest of two:22:17, achieved in New York final 12 months. Hauger-Thackery was a non-finisher in Paris on the Olympics however has since claimed the UK 5km title and completed second behind Eilish McColgan on the Large Half.
Calli Thackery (Getty)
Veteran runner Sonia Samuels, 44, continues to defy age with a greatest time of two:28:04. Fellow Brit Phillipa Bowden can also be within the combine, aiming to enhance her 2:29:14.
Germany’s hopes relaxation on Melat Kejeta, who will intention to develop into solely the second German lady to interrupt the two:20:00 mark in Berlin, following within the footsteps of Irina Mikitenko, who ran 2:19:19 on the course in 2008.
She completed sixth within the 2021 Olympic marathon in Japan however unhealthy luck precipitated a setback within the Paris Video games the place she needed to drop out as a consequence of abdomen issues.
In whole there are 50,000 entries for the fiftieth version of the race.
The Berlin Marathon will begin at 7:50am GMT on Sunday September 29.
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