FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
50th BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:
Ethiopians Mengesha and Ketema score double Triumph
The Ethiopians Milkesa Mengesha and Tigist Ketema claimed the top honours
in the 50th anniversary race of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. In excellent
weather conditions, cool and sunny, Mengesha triumphed in 2:03:17, the
third fastest time in the world this year. Second to the 24-year-old was
Cybrian Kotut of Kenya in 2:03:22 while the Ethiopian Haymanot Alew
finished third in 2:03:31. The top times didn't end there since Stephen
Kiprop of Kenya ran 2:03:37 for fourth. The best German finisher was
Sebastian Hendel who sprang a surprise for a highly creditable improvement
of his best to 2:07:33. This performance made him the fifth fastest German
marathoner of all time.
Tigist Ketema dominated the women's race for victory in 2:16:42, the third
fastest women's time in the 50-year history of the race. She led her
Ethiopian compatriots Mestawot Fikir and Bosena Mulatie home, the second
and third placers finishing in 2:18:48 and 2:19:00 respectively. The
leading German finisher was Melat Kejeta with 2:23:40 for eleventh place.
Overall the race still produced outstanding performances although no major
records were broken. Taking both winning times into account, their
aggregate of 4:19:59 made the 50th edition the twelfth fastest marathon in
history and the fourth fastest ever in Berlin. For the first time in
Berlin, four men went under 2:04. The anniversary edition attracted 58,212
starters from 161 countries.
Men's Race
The pace was very fast from the start of the men's race. Led by three
pacemakers, 12 runners went through 10km in 28:42, on course for a
finishing time in the region of Eliud Kipchoge's course record of 2:01:09.
The tempo proved to be too ambitious and after reaching halfway in 60:57
and the departure of the pacemakers by 25km, the pace slowed appreciably.
Several kilometre splits were timed at over three minutes each – highly
unusual for the Berlin race. The leading group was still sizeable by 30km
with eight men going through in 1:27:21. Five kilometres later the group
had been reduced to four: the Kenyans Stephen Kiprop and Cybrian Kotut as
well as the Ethiopian pair of Milkesa Mengesha and Haymanot Alew. While
Alew and Kiprop dropped off the pace, the decisive point only came in the
final kilometre shortly before the Brandenburg Gate. Milkesa Mingesha broke
away from Cybrian Kotut to achieve the greatest win of his career. "It was
good that I didn't come here as one of the big favourites so I could run
without any real pressure. This personal best also shows what a huge
advance I've made," said Mengesha, whose previous fastest time was 2:05:29.
There was solid reason for the home fans to celebrate as Sebastian Hendel
showed good pace judgement before making up much ground in the second half.
Hendrik Pfeiffer was the first of his German compatriots to be overtaken,
around 10km from the finish, then Filimon Abraham at 38km. "It was a great
race and I was surprised at the end to be the top German finisher," said a
delighted Hendel. He had only broken 2:10 in Hamburg this April, running
2:08:51, so to improve to 2:07:33 was a considerable achievement.
Women's Race
In contrast to the men, the women's race proved almost a start to finish
solo win for Tigist Ketema, whose personal best of 2:16:09 made her the
fastest on the start list by some distance. For a time she ran a pace on
course for a sub 2:16:00 finish. Her fellow Ethiopian Azmera Gebru was the
only rival who attempted to match her pace but she dropped back shortly
before 20km while Ketema went through halfway in 67:53 on the way to
achieving the second win in a major marathon this year, having triumphed in
Dubai in January. "I actually wanted to run a personal best but I am so
pleased with the win and also the time," said the 26-year-old Tigist
Ketema.
Ethiopians claimed the top three places with Mestawot Fikir finishing
second in 2:18:48 followed by Bosena Mulatie in 2:19:00. Both improved
their personal bests by several minutes, neither having broken 2:20
previously.
Despite mentioning she had been suffering from knee problems before the
race, Melat Kejeta attempted to break the German record of 2:19:19 set by
Irina Mikitenko in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 16 years ago. Melat Kejeta
reached halfway in 69:43 but couldn't hold that pace in the second half. "I
tried but it was too fast. My legs became heavy and the knee started to
hurt," explained Kejeta after her 2:23:40 finish.
Results, Men:
1. Milkesa Mengesha ETH 2:03:17
2. Cyprian Kotut KEN 2:03:22
3. Haymanot Alew ETH 2:03:31
4. Stephen Kiprop KEN 2:03:37
5. Hailemariyam Kiros ETH 2:04:35
6. Yohei Ikeda JPN 2:05:12
7. Tadese Takele ETH 2:05:13
8. Oqbe Kibrom Ruesom ERI 2:05:37
9. Onchari Enock KEN 2:05:53
10. Derseh Kindie ETH 2:05:54
Women:
1. Tigist Ketema ETH 2:16:42
2. Mestawot Fikir ETH 2:18:48
3. Bosena Mulatie ETH 2:19:00
4. Aberu Ayana ETH 2:20:20
5. Ai Hosoda JPN 2:20:31
6. Mizuki Matsuda JPN 2:20:42
7. Calli Hauger-Thackery GBR 2:21:24
8. Yebregual Melese ETH 2:21:39
9. Fikrte Wereta ETH 2:23:23
10. Sisay Gola ETH 2:23:36
More information is available online at: www.berlin-marathon.com
###
|
