A new look awaits the elite fields for Berlin’s big jubilee race, the 50th edition of the BMW Berling Marathon.

The men’s elite field comes with a change that reflects the recent development at the very top of elite marathon racing. It will be the first time since 2014 that you will not find the name of either Eliud Kipchoge or Kenenisa Bekele on the start line of the marathon. However, the elite race director of the marathon, Mark Milde, who broke most world records (13), can be confident that not much will change regarding the outcome. Although world records will not be the target on September 29, the jubilee race could deliver fast times again. 

A record number of more than 50,000 runners are expected to take in the 50th BMW Berlin Marathon.

The men

From those on the men’s start list at least one has the potential to become Kenya’s next marathon superstar: Kibiwott Kandie is a former world half marathon record holder with a personal best of 57:32. This performance suggests a 2:02:00 marathon finish or perhaps even faster. The 28-year-old, who has a current PB of 2:04:48 and was inspired by former Berlin world record breaker Paul Tergat, is one of half a dozen runners who feature very strong personal bests of sub 2:05:00. 

Ras al-Khaima 21 /02/2020 Al Ras Khaimah , Half Marathon, Al Marjan Island, nella foto: Kibiwott Kandie vincitore della half marathon2020 – foto di Giancarlo Colombo/A.G.Giancarlo Colombo

Returning to the event will be Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele and Ronald Korir of Kenya, who placed third and fourth last year. Both ran their personal bests of 2:03:24 and 2:04:22 here. Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut, a younger brother of former Abbott World Marathon Majors Champion Martin Lel, will run his first Berlin Marathon. Kotut features a PB of 2:04:34. Ethiopians Hailemaryam Kiros (2:04:41) and Bazezew Asmare (2:04:57) are the other two runners with sub 2:05 PBs. Another runner who could challenge for a place on the podium is Samwel Mailu. The Kenyan smashed the course record of the Vienna City Marathon last year with 2:05:08. Due to an injury the bronze medallist from the 2023 World Half Marathon Championships was unable to compete this spring.

The women

The women’s race could see a battle between Ethiopia’s newcomer Tigist Ketema and Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru. With their personal bests they are among the top ten on the marathon all-time list. Tigist Ketema took the Dubai Marathon this year with an unofficial world debut record of 2:16:07. She is a training partner of Tigst Assefa, who smashed the world record in Berlin a year ago. Rosemary Wanjiru ran her marathon debut in Berlin two years ago and finished second with a brilliant 2:18:00. This year she improved to 2:16:14 when she was runner-up in Tokyo. 

Former 1,500m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba, who is the younger sister of Ethiopian running legend Tirunesh Dibaba, will hope to achieve a fast time on the flat Berlin course. She ran a 2:18:05 debut in Amsterdam two years ago but was not yet able to improve this time. Dibaba was the 2014 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year. Fellow Ethiopian Yebrgual Melese is the fourth woman on the start list who has a sub 2:20 PB with 2:19:36.

Elite athlete list

Men

Tadese Takele ETH 2:03:24
Ronald Korir KEN 2:04:22
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
Stephen Kiprop KEN 2:07:04

Women

Tigist Ketema ETH 2:16:07
Rosemary Wanjiru KEN 2:16:14
Genzebe Dibaba ETH 2:18:05
Yebrugal Melese ETH 2:19:36
Mestawot Fikir ETH 2:20:45
Azmera Gebru ETH 2:20:48
Sisay Gola ETH 2:20:50
Ababel Yeshaneh  ETH 2:20:51
Mizuki Matsuda JPN 2:20:52
Fikrte Wereta  ETH 2:21:32