Kipchoge’s course record under threat in Berlin

An open and tight men’s race is expected at the BMW Berlin Marathon on Sunday. After the withdrawal of injured world record holder Sabastian Sawe, who will be in Berlin as a guest of honour, at least half a dozen athletes look capable of winning Germany’s most spectacular road race. Without Sawe, there will obviously be no attempt to break the two-hour barrier; however, a very fast race is still likely. The course record by Eliud Kipchoge is a target. Kenya’s superstar won the event in 2022 with a world record of 2:01:09. 

Five athletes on the start list have strong personal bests of under 2:05:00. “I expect a thrilling race, and we have hopes for a course record. The pace for the first group will be towards 2:01,” said Race Director Mark Milde. Once again, the depth of Berlin’s elite field is very strong as well. A total of 26 runners have already clocked times of under 2:08:00 – a time that was still considered world-class some 25 years ago and was only beaten for the first time in Berlin in 1995. Three Germans are on the start list with PBs between 2:07:00 and 2:09:00 – Sebastian Hendel, Haftom Welday and newcomer Aaron Bienenfeld.

Organisers of the Berlin Marathon registered over 56,000 entries from 162 nations for the classic distance.

The fastest runner on the start list is now Gabriel Geay. With a time of 2:03:00, he holds the Tanzanian national record and ranks 17th on the list of the fastest runners of all time. “I am glad that I have a second chance to run in Berlin,” said the 29-year-old, who, like a number of other athletes, had to withdraw from the race a year ago due to the high temperatures. “I am in good shape and hope to run a very good time.”

A group of Ethiopian runners is among the favourites. Guye Adola is an athlete who set his outstanding personal best in Berlin and has also won the race before. In 2017 Adola finished second behind Kenya’s superstar Eliud Kipchoge. On that occasion, he ran an unofficial world debut record of 2:03:46, which remains his personal best. In 2021, Adola won Berlin. Among others, he left Ethiopian superstar Kenenisa Bekele, who will not be able to run in Berlin on Sunday due to an injury, behind him. “I am very well prepared and in the best shape of my life,” said the 35-year-old, who won the Rotterdam Marathon this spring and came close to his PB with 2:03:54. Among his training partners in Addis Ababa is Yomif Kejelcha, who caused a sensation in London when he was runner-up in 1:59:41 and who recently broke the half-marathon world record. “During our training runs, I was only a little behind Yomif,” said Guye Adola.

Selemon Barega could produce a big personal best in Berlin. The 10,000m Olympic Champion from Tokyo 2021 will run his third marathon on Sunday. So far his PB stands at 2:05:00. “I’ve trained well and want to improve further in Berlin,” said the 26-year-old. Two of his Ethiopian compatriots are also among the favourites: Getaneh Molla and Shura Kitata have impressive personal bests of 2:03:34 and 2:03:59 respectively.

No fewer than eleven Japanese runners with personal records ranging from around 2:06 to 2:08 feature on the final start list. It is expected that some of the group will attempt to challenge the Japanese record of 2:04:55.

The depth in this time range could benefit a trio of German elite runners. Sebastian Hendel surprised in Berlin two years ago when he clocked his PB of 2:07:33. Since then, however, he has been repeatedly hampered by health issues and injuries. “I am not yet in the sort of shape needed for a personal best; I’d be happy with a time of 2:09 or 2:08,” said Sebastian Hendel. Haftom Welday has already shown promising form this year, improving his time to 2:08:13 in Barcelona in March. “I’m fit, and my aim is to beat my personal best,” said the 36-year-old, who has been training in Ethiopia.

Aaron Bienenfeld ran a brilliant debut in Hamburg at the end of April with 2:08:47 – the fastest debut time ever by a German. Now he wants to improve further and break into the 2:06 to 2:08 range. “I have trained better than before Hamburg; everything was a bit more professional,” said Aaron Bienenfeld, who is coached by John Green in Flagstaff (USA).

Men’s elite list