The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is about to start and already has a highlight in store on Friday night. At Meet the Legends (6:15 p.m. near Brandenburg Gate), elite male and female runners from the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will present themselves to the Berlin public. World record holder Eliud Kipchoge and Tigst Assefa are expected to take part, among them the fastest runners of the past year.
Top fields in all disciplines
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON features the world's top athletes in all disciplines - from inline skaters, wheelchair athletes and hand cyclists to the runners who will be chasing records. A first record was already set before the start with 47,912 runners: Never before so many participants have been registered for the run. "Our motto is Run for Joy to Become a Berlin Legend. And that doesn't just apply to the elite, but to everyone who will be participating this weekend," emphasises Jürgen Lock, Managing Director of SCC EVENTS. In keeping with this, the visitBerlin partner hotels have launched a new initiative for their guests this year with: „Medal Sunday & Monday“. More here>>
Fast race expected for handbikers
Fun is also the main focus for hand cyclists Vico Merklein and Katrin Möller, as the two athletes explained at today's press conference. "It will be hard to defend my victory from last year, especially if it comes to a sprint at the end", said Möller. Vico Merklein will be competing in his 18th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on Sunday. "I want to have fun on my home course in Berlin. The competition is very strong, so the one-hour mark could fall for the first time." Merklein set the current course record in 2015 with a time of 1:02:32 hours.
Strong Swiss field in the wheelchair competition
In the wheelchair competition Switzerland is traditionally very strongly represented - especially with the 6-time winner Manuela Schär, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON this year."I am very proud to be able to race in such a top-class field. We will do our best to ensure that the podium is firmly in Swiss hands, just like last year," said Schär."I have fond memories of the marathon and am looking forward to Sunday," emphasises last year's surprise winner Catherine Debrunner. From a German point of view, Merle Menje, who is only 19 years old, has very good chances. In the men's field, Marcel Hug, another Swiss, is very well prepared; he already has seven victories at the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON to his name.
Eliud Kipchoge is ready for a fast race
Once again the best marathon runner of all time will be on the start line of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. The double Olympic champion from Kenya, who brought his own world record down to 2:01:09 a year ago in Berlin, will be almost compelled to go all out for a fast time on Sunday, such is the enormously competitive running scene among his compatriots where only an extremely fast time within the Olympic qualifying mark will secure one of the three places for the Kenyan men’s team in the Olympic Marathon in Paris next year. Eliud Kipchoge’s ambition in Paris is to become the first runner in history to win three Olympic Marathon titles. The Kenyan is aiming to use the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON almost as a springboard to book his place in Paris. While Eliud Kipchoge could strike up a world record pace at the head of the field, Germany’s marathon star Amanal Petros seeks an unprecedented achievement in the history of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON by becoming the first to set a men’s national record here, a feat so far never accomplished in the previous 48 editions of the event.
Berlin as a springboard for the Olympics
“Berlin for me is like home. Looking at the Olympic Games in Paris next year, I considered which races would be the best preparation for me and Berlin was the best option,” explained Eliud Kipchoge. A year ago his pace for much of the early stages of the race suggested he might even break two hours. “But that was 2022, it’s a different year now and a different race,” said the 38-year-old. Winning in Berlin for the fifth time would give him more titles here than any other champion. He is currently level with the legendary Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie on four victories. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that Eliud Kipchoge breaks the world record for the third time in Berlin, although he did not announce any definite goals at the press conference. “I’m nervous, but that shows I’m ready,” said Kipchoge. “I’ll try to run a good time.” Of his 20 marathons, Eliud Kipchoge has emerged victorious in all but three, in itself a unique achievement.
Strong competition from Kenya
The man with the second fastest time going into the race is also Kenyan, Amos Kipruto. He ran his personal best of 2:03:13 in Tokyo last year, finishing runner-up to Eliud Kipchoge. “My aim on Sunday is to run a personal best,” stated Amos Kipruto, whose career highlight so far is winning the London Marathon last year. A dozen men on the start list show best times of under 2:06, proof of the strength in depth among the elite in this year’s BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. “It would be fair to say that every elite runners comes to Berlin to run their personal best,” admitted Mark Milde.
Amanal Petros aims to break German record Amanal Petros has as his goal in his BMW BERLIN-MARATHON debut that of breaking his own German record of 2:06:07 by a clear margin. “I’ve trained in Kenya for almost four months at altitude of 2,400 metres, concentrating entirely on Berlin. That was very challenging,” said the 28-year-old. “Going through halfway in around 62 minutes is feasible but we can adjust the pace at any time.” Not only the German but the Swiss national record for the marathon could come under pressure. Tadesse Abraham improved his best to 2:06:38 as a 39-year-old last year in Zurich. Now turned 41, he might even threaten the world masters record of none other than Kenenisa Bekele, who ran 2:05:53 in London last year.
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