World class running is expected at the Vattenfall BERLIN HALFMARATHON on Sunday, April 7. Competition is coming from Kenneth Kipkemoi (pb 59:11 min), Victor Kipchirchir (59:31), Silas Kipruto (59:39, all from Kenya), Azmeraw Bekele (59:39) and Abera Kuma (60:19, both from Ethiopia). On the women´s side last year´s winner Philes Ongori (pb 67:38), last year´s second place finisher Hela Kiprop (68:26) and the winner of the 2011 edition of the race, Valentine Kipketer (68:21, all from Kenya) are the main contenders for first place.
With temperatures expected to get no higher than 5 degrees Kenneth Kipkemoi and Philes Ongori both find the conditions “perfect” to run faster than ever before, as they stated in a press conference today. Both are aiming for a personal best on Sunday.
There will be a live stream on the internet showing the race at the top starting at 10.05 am (CET) and lasting until the elite women´s finish at around 11.20 am. This stream is running without comment. You will find detailed info on the top runners in our Media Guide. A news feed will be sent out after race.
30,114 runners have registered for the 33rd running of this race – a record number of participants for the ninth year in a row. Together with the inline skaters the total number of athletes is at 32,023.