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In addition to the number one and number two in the world, world-record holder, Patrick Makau, and Wilson Kipsang (both of Kenya), several other top-notch runners will be competing in Berlin on September 29: Eliud Kipchoge (Kenya) was crowned world champion in the 5000m in 2003 and won Olympic bronze in 2004 and silver in 2008. He made an impressive marathon debut this past spring, with a dominating win in Hamburg in 2:05:30. Geoffrey Kipsang is only 21 years old and is considered to be one of the top running talents from the Kenyan highlands. In 2011, he was junior cross-country world champion, and a few weeks later he won his first half marathon (in Berlin); half a year later he served as the pacemaker for Haile Gebrselassie at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON, which Patrick Makau won with a new world record. One year ago at the same race, he took third place in a time of 2:06:12. Marilson Dos Santos of Brazil (personal best 2:06:38) has already won the ING New York City Marathon twice (in 2006 and 2008) and placed 5th last year amidst a top field at the Olympic marathon in London.
The women’s race: top-calibre and completely open
At the women’s race, top favourites Florence Kiplagat (Berlin champion in 2011, 2:19:42) and German marathon record-holder Irina Mikitenko (LG Eintracht Frankfurt, 2:19:19) will face Kenyans Georgina Rono (2:21:39), Boston champion Sharon Cherop (2:22:39) and Helah Kiprop (debut), Desiree Davila (USA, 2:22:38), Isabellah Andersson (Sweden, 2:23:41) and Remi Nakazato (2:24:28) and Eri Hayakawa (2:26:17) (both of Japan).
This strong field promises an exciting race. In addition, Irina Mikitenko hopes to set a new world record for the Master’s class, which is currently set at 2:25:43 – a real possibility for the 41-year-old, who is still Germany’s fastest female marathon runner.
All Berlin world-record holders will be in Berlin for the anniversary event
Eight world records have been set in Berlin, more than at any other marathon in the past 50 years. Haile Gebrselassie set two of them, in 2007 and 2008. All of the record holders will be coming to Berlin for the celebration: Christa Vahlensieck (Wuppertal, 1977), Ronaldo Da Costa (Brazil, 1998), Tegla Loroupe (Kenya, 1999), Naoko Takahashi (Japan, 2001, first woman to run under 2:20), Paul Tergat (Kenya, 2003), Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia, 2007, 2008) and Patrick Makau (Kenya, 2011).
Three-time BERLIN MARATHON champion, Uta Pippig (1990, 1992, 1995), will also be here, as well as Katrin Dörre-Heinig (1994); the two of them were among the top female marathon runners in the world in the 1990s.