FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2016 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON: Wilson Kipsang and Kenenisa Bekele
face strong competition
Expectations are high once again for a very fast race in the 43rd edition
of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON on September 25. All the omens are favourable
with the recruitment of another high quality field which, given good
weather conditions, points to another year of outstanding, world class
times. The former world record holder Wilson Kipsang of Kenya and
Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele have taken centre stage as the pre-race build-up
has taken place, but alongside them are a clutch of athletes possessing the
talent to be right up there with them. Seven runners in the field have best
times under 2:06. At the head of the women's field is the double BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON champion Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia. The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON
is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors Series and an IAAF Gold Label
event, the highest category of road race awarded by the International
Association of Athletics Federations.
The men's world record has been broken seven times in Berlin and the
world's fastest time of the year was achieved here on five consecutive
occasions. These performances combine to make the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON the
fastest race for the classic distance of 42.195km in the world. The
recruitment of Wilson Kipsang, who brought the world record down to 2:03:23
in Berlin in 2013 and Kenenisa Bekele, who will be looking to make a big
improvement on his marathon debut time of 2:05:04 in Paris in 2014, was
announced some time ago. But these two outstanding runners shouldn't think
that the race will be simply a duel between themselves.
The fastest man on the start list is not Wilson Kipsang but his fellow
Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai. He finished second in Berlin two years ago in
2:03:13, beaten only by the man who set the world record, Dennis Kimetto
(2:02:57). Another to take into account is the Ethiopian Tsegaye Mekonnen
who will be making his Berlin debut. In 2014 the teenager ran a world
junior best of 2:04:32 to make headlines in Dubai but failed to win a place
on the national team for the Olympics.
"I think we'll see a relatively big group in the lead this time since there
are a number of athletes capable of going with the kind of pace which will
bring a time under 2:04. It could be very exciting and - depending on the
weather - very fast," said the Race Director Mark Milde, who has also
brought in three more Kenyans in Vincent Kipruto (2:05:13), Eliud Kiptanui
(2:05:21) and Evans Chebet (2:05:33) who have shown they can break 2:06.
While the Japanese Yuki Kawauchi's best of 2:08:14 may not threaten the
leaders, this prolific marathoner will be making his Berlin debut. Noted
for the frequency and consistency of his marathons, the 2014 Asian Games
bronze medallist has already run five races at the distance this year,
including his most recent effort of second place with 2:09:01 in
Australia's Gold Coast marathon on July 3. In 2014 he ran a total of 13
marathons and the following year even improved on that with 15. However he
intends to focus on Berlin and ran less marathons this year.
Ethiopians are the favourites in the women's race. Aberu Kebede not only
has the fastest personal best but a great deal of experience in the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON. Her tally from three appearances comprises two wins and
one second place, an impressive CV. Kebede won in 2010 in 2:23:58 and set
her current personal best of 2:20:30 two years later when she took that
race again. Last year she was beaten only by the Kenyan Gladys Cherono who
ran the fastest time in the world with 2:19:25 with Kebede runner-up in
2:20:48. Her chief ambition remains to break the 2:20 barrier.
Two more Ethiopian women will be among Aberu Kebede's strongest opponents:
Amane Beriso took a big step forward with second place in 2:20:48 in Dubai
in January. Birhane Dibaba ran her best of 2:22:30 two years ago as
runner-up in Tokyo. Their compatriot Ruti Aga (2:25:27) could also have a
say in the outcome.
"It's noticeable with the women's race that, since we've just had the
Olympics, many of the top runners ran in Rio. Compared to the men the
women's top marathon runners worldwide have not quite the strength in
depth. But the situation also offers the chance for another runner to make
a name for herself," reflected Mark Milde and added: "We hope to have world
class performances and a fast race."
Main contenders with personal best
MEN
Emmanuel Mutai KEN 2:03:13
Wilson Kipsang KEN 2:03:23
Tsegaye Mekonnen ETH 2:04:32
Kenenisa Bekele ETH 2:05:04
Vincent Kipruto KEN 2:05:13
Sisay Lemma KEN 2:05:16
Eliud Kiptanui KEN 2:05:21
Evans Chebet KEN 2:05:33
Mark Kiptoo KEN 2:06:00
Alfers Lagat KEN 2:06:58
Yuki Kawauchi JPN 2:08:14
WOMEN
Aberu Kebede ETH 2:20:30
Amane Beriso ETH 2:20:48
Birhane Dibaba ETH 2:22:30
Reina Iwade JPN 2:24:38
Ruti Aga ETH 2:25:27
Janet Ronoh KEN 2:26:03
Media accreditation and press conferences
Online Media accreditation for the 2016 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON closes on 11th
September 2016.
The press conferences are held at Hotel InterContinental (Budapester Straße
2, 10787 Berlin).
The following schedule addresses all press and media representatives
exklusively interested in the 2016 BMW BERLIN-MARATHON (all times CEST):
Monday, September 19th, 11 a.m.
race preview
Thursday, September 22nd, 10 a.m.
Preview inline skating with top athletes followed by (about 11 a.m.) female
elite runners
Friday, September 23rd, 10 a.m.
Top athletes wheelchair and handbike followed by (about 11 a.m.) male elite
runners
Saturday, September 24th, 6.30 p.m.
Winners inline skating
Sonntag, September 25th, 12.30 p.m.
Winners running
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