Press Release - Berlin Marathon - 9/23/24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
	
                   50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON ON SUNDAY:

 Deep fields promise fast and exciting races in Berlin's jubilee marathon

The 50th edition of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON promises fast and exciting 
elite races. Deep fields were assembled with 14 men who have already run 
sub 2:06:00. While there is no strong favourite among them it is different 
with the women: Ethiopia's Tigist Ketema heads the list with her stunning 
2:16:07 debut time, which makes her the ninth fastest marathon runner ever. 
Ten more women have personal bests of sub 2:22:00. An incredible 13 world 
records were broken in the history of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, many more 
than in any other marathon. The jubilee edition of Germany's most 
spectacular road race will have a record number of around 50,000 
participants. 

Without Kenya's superstar Eliud Kipchoge, the winner of the past two 
editions, the fastest on paper is Tadese Takele. The Ethiopian was third in 
Berlin a year ago when he improved to 2:03:24. Since another fast race is 
expected Takele will probably have to run quicker to be in contention for 
the prestigious marathon victory at the Brandenburg Gate. Kibiwott Kandie 
could well challenge for his first triumph over the classic distance. The 
Kenyan is the former world half marathon record holder (57:32) and has huge 
potential. Germany's Hendrik Pfeiffer leads a group of strong domestic 
runners. He improved to 2:07:14 early this year in Houston.

Tigist Ketema stormed to a sensational victory in Dubai at the beginning of 
the year, clocking an unofficial world debut record of 2:16:07. Coming to 
another very fast course now the training partner of Tigst Assefa, who 
smashed the world record here with 2:11:53 a year ago, might look to 
improve her personal best. The women's field includes a former world record 
holder as well, but at a much shorter distance: Genzebe Dibaba ran 3:50.07 
in the 1,500m in 2015. When she switched to the marathon she ran a fast 
debut with 2:18:05 in Amsterdam two years ago.

Unfortunately Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru had to cancel her start due to 
injury. But Germany's Melat Kejeta is a late addition to the field. She 
dropped out of the Olympic Marathon early because of stomach problems and 
now hopes to bounce back in Berlin with a personal best. Kejeta might well 
try to become the second German woman after Irina Mikitenko (2:19:19 in 
Berlin in 2008) to break 2:20:00.

Elite Runners for the 50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:

MEN

Tadese Takele       ETH 2:03:24
Cybrian Kotut       KEN 2:04:34
Hailemaryam Kiros   ETH 2:04:41
Kibiwott Kandie     KEN 2:04:48
Bazezew Asmare      ETH 2:04:57
Samwel Mailu        KEN 2:05:08
Milkesa Mengesha    ETH 2:05:29
Haymanot Alew       ETH 2:05:30
Philimon Kipchumba  KEN 2:05:35
Josphat Boit        KEN 2:05:42 
Dejene Megersa      ETH 2:05:42
Enock Onchari       KEN 2:05:47 
Oqbe Ruesom         ERI 2:05:51
Justus Kangogo      KEN 2:05:57
Haimro Alame        ISR 2:06:04
Ashenafi Moges      ETH 2:06:12
Asbel Rutto         KEN 2:07:04
Samuel Tsegay       SWE 2:06:53
Yohei Ikeda         JPN 2:06:53
Stephen Kiprop      KEN 2:07:04
Hendrik Pfeiffer    GER 2:07:14
Kento Kikutani      JPN 2:07:26
Melaku Belachew     ETH 2:07:28
Godadaw Belachew    ISR 2:07:45
Yuhei Urano         JPN 2:07:52
Guojian Dong        CHN 2:08:12
Filimon Abraham     GER 2:08:22
Haftom Welday       GER 2:08:24
Sebastian Hendel    GER 2:08:51
Olonbayar Jamsran   MGL 2:08:58
Haftamu Gebresilase ETH Debut

WOMEN

Tigist Ketema         ETH 2:16:07
Genzebe Dibaba        ETH 2:18:05
Yebrugal Melese       ETH 2:19:36
Mestawot Fikir        ETH 2:20:45
Azmera Gebru          ETH 2:20:48
Sisay Gola            ETH 2:20:50
Mizuki Matsuda        JPN 2:20:52
Fikrte Wereta         ETH 2:21:32
Ai Hosoda             JPN 2:21:42
Melat Kejeta          GER 2:21:47
Aberu Ayana           ETH 2:21:54
Calli Hauger-Thackery GBR 2:22:17
Bekelech Gudeta       ETH 2:22:54
Lisa Weightman        AUS 2:23:15
Betelihem Afenigus    ETH 2:23:20
Veronica Maina        KEN 2:24:46
Bosena Mulatie        ETH 2:26:59
Alisa Vainio          FIN 2:27:26
Sonia Samuels         GBR 2:28:04
Nora Szabo            HUN 2:28:25
Philippa Bowden       USA 2:29:14
Pauline Esikon        KEN Debut

More information is available online at: www.berlin-marathon.com 

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