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Komon against Kogo: Next Sunday’s ASICS Grand 10 see a world record revenge
Leonard Komon is the 10 k world record holder.
Foto: photorun.net
[04.10.2010] Next Sunday’s ASICS Grand 10 will see a world record revenge: The two fastest 10 k runners ever will meet in Berlin. And Kenya’s Micah Kogo will be eager to take his revenge after loosing the world record to his fellow countryman Leonard Komon recently. In Utrecht Komon had clocked the first sub 27 minutes time with 26:44. Organisers from BERLIN RUNS, who had seen a spectacular double world record in their BIG 25 k race in May this year, expect up to 7,000 runners to take part in the event in the centre of Berlin.
There is no doubt that on the flat course of the ASICS Grand 10 world-class times are possible. But obviously everything has to fit perfectly for a world record. But at least the organisers hope to see the fastest 10 k time ever run on German soil. This stands at 27:43 minutes, run by Daniel Chebii (Kenya) a month ago in Duesseldorf.
Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist Micah Kogo had established the 10 k world record of 27:01 minutes in 2009 in Brunssum (Netherlands), when he improved the mark of Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) by one second. On 26th September this year Leonard Komon was much faster in Utrecht, clocking 26:44. The 22 year-old improved the record by 17 seconds. Now the two will meet at the ASICS Grand 10 and 24 year-old Kogo will be eager to take his revenge. A couple of pacemakers should secure a fast race.
Also in the race is defending champion Jan Kreisinger (Czech Republic) and German marathon runner Falk Cierpinski. Polands Karolina Jarczynska and Agnieszka Gortel are the favourites in the women’s race.
Samuel Kosgei and Mary Keitany make it a sensational and unique double world record race at the BIG 25 Berlin
World record: Samuel Kosgei
Foto: Victah Sailer/photorun.net
[09.05.2010] Kenyans Samuel Kosgei and Mary Keitany crowned the jubilee edition of the BIG 25 Berlin with unique double world record performances. Never before have both world records been broken in one road race. While Sammy Kosgei stormed into the finish inside the Berlin Olympic Stadium with a time of 1:11:50, Mary Keitany clocked a sensational 1:19:53. She became the first female runner to dip under 1:20 in a 25 k race. Both records were smashed in the BIG 25 Berlin race. Organisers of BERLIN RUNS registered 10,114 runners from 47 nations at the 30th edition of the race.
Elite runners took advantage of perfect conditions for running on Sunday morning. While temperatures were between 12 and 14° Celsius there was practically no wind at all and the sky was overcast. A big leading group of more than 20 African runners surged through the 5 k point in 14:29 minutes. While the first five kilometres after the start at the Olympic Stadium are slightly downhill pacemakers made sure that the pace kept high on the flat parts in the city centre. The 10 k point was reached in 29:01, followed by a very fast 5 k section of 14:04 (15 k split: 43:05). In this part of the race the group fell apart and finally a duel between Samuel Kosgei and Gilbert Kirwa (Kenya), the winner of the Frankfurt Marathon in 2009, developed. At first the defending champion Matthew Koech (Kenya) ran together with the two, but he soon dropped back.
The pace kept high although the section between 18 and 21 k is slightly uphill. Samuel Kosgei – he was Haile Gebrselassie’s pacemaker in last year’s Berlin Marathon and was next to the Ethiopian when the 30 k world record of 1:27:49 was established in that race – and Gilbert Kirwa had reached the 20 k mark in 57:22 and then they achieved a remarkable half marathon split time of 60:42. In the final two kilometres 24 year-old Samuel Kosgei opened a decisive gap. He finally improved the world record set by Paul Kosgei (Kenya) in this race in 2004 (1:12:45) by almost one minute. Gilbert Kirwa took second and he also achieved a sub 1:12 time with 1:11:58. Terefe Maregu (Ethiopia) was third in 1:13:16.
Altogether seven runners finished inside 1:14. Among them was the former world record holder Paul Kosgei. He had been in the leading group until close to the 15 k mark and finally finished in sixth position with 1:13:48.
„It was my aim to run 1:12 here today. But I did not think that I could win this and I also did not expect to run sub 1:12,” said Samuel Kosgei. “My next goal is running my first marathon. I would like to come back to Berlin for that in September. If Haile Gebrselassie should return I would look forward to this. And it would be my goal to beat him.”
World record: Mary Keitany
Foto: Victah Sailer/photorun.net
Right from the start Mary Keitany ran her own race at the front, supported by two pacemakers. With an even pace the 28 year-old World Half Marathon Champion was on course for a time of around 1:20 throughout the race. She reached the 10 k mark in 31:58 minutes – a time which would be good enough to win almost all of Germany’s 10 k races – and then clocked 47:58 at the 15 k point. Even when the course was going up on the way back to the Olympic Stadium Mary Keitany kept her rhythm and speed perfectly. Finally clocking 1:19:53 she smashed the world record set by Japan’s Mizuki Noguchi during the Berlin Marathon 2005 (1:22:13).
Mary Keitany was almost five minutes ahead of Alice Timbilili (1:24:38), who was second. Pasalia Kipkoech (both Kenya/1:26:47), who had recently won the Berlin Half Marathon, took third. „I have prepared long and intensively for this race and I had expected to break the world record. But I did not expect to break it by such a margin and to run sub 1:20,” said Mary Keitany, who intends to run her marathon debut in autumn.
„Two world records in one race and additionally a time barrier broken by Mary Keitany – you really can not have a better jubilee race,“ said a thrilled Christoph Kopp, who is the elite athletes’ manager for the BIG 25 Berlin.
Results, Men:
1. Samuel Kosgei KEN 1:11:50
2. Gilbert Kirwa KEN 1:11:58
3. Terefe Maregu ETH 1:13:16
4. Erick Rotich KEN 1:13:24
5. Matthew Koech KEN 1:13:45
6. Paul Kosgei KEN 1:13:48
7. Felix Keny KEN 1:13:53
8. Allan Kiprono KEN 1:14:15
9. Joel Kimurer KEN 1:14:34
10. Lusapho April RSA 1:15:02
Women:
1. Mary Keitany KEN 1:19:53
2. Alice Timbilili KEN 1:24:38
3. Pasalia Kipkoech KEN 1:26:47
4. Eunice Kales KEN 1:29:05
5. Christine Chepkemei KEN 1:29:30
Mary Keitany sets sights on the marathon after her debut world record in BIG 25 Berlin
Mary Keitany and her world record time.
Foto: photorun.net
[10.05.2010] After her phenomenal world record in the BIG 25 Berlin Mary Keitany looked ahead to her next big goal, which will be the marathon. The 28 year-old Kenyan had become the first female to clock a sub 1:20 time in a 25 k race, when she ran 1:19:53 on Sunday in the German capital. In her first race at the distance Keitany smashed the world record on the Berlin roads, improving the mark by a staggering 2:20 minutes. With this performance she has given another strong indication, that she is capable of becoming the world’s next great marathon runner. At the London Olympics in 2012 the classic race will be the event she hopes to win and an attempt to break Paula Radcliffe’s legendary world marathon record may also be on the cards in future.
One of her elder sisters once motivated Mary Keitany to start running. While Mary Keitany was born in the Baringo District the daughter of a farmer’s family grew up in the Koibatek District (both belong to the Rift Valley Province). Keitany has three sisters and one brother. Her eldest sister started running at school. “I saw that she was talented and thought that I should try this as well,” says Mary Keitany. While her sister gave up despite running on national level at school Mary came through all the way to become the world’s number one road runner.
At the BIG 25 Berlin race Mary Keitany was honoured with the AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award. In 2009 she had dominated the World Half Marathon Championships and with a time of 66:36 minutes missed the world record by just eleven seconds.
Mary Keitany started running at school but it was not before the age of 18 that she trained more seriously. She was at secondary school at that time. It was not before the end of 2006, when she appeared in Europe for the first time. She ran a half marathon and a road race in Spain at first. At that time Mary Keitany was coached by Philip Singoei, who won the Eindhoven Marathon in 2007 with 2:07:57. “In April 2007 Gianni Demadonna opened a training camp in Iten, which is where Mary lives”, explains her current coach Gabriele Nicola, who works for Demadonna’s management.
Mary Keitany soon joined in and then step by step Gabriele Nicola took over as a coach. “In Iten I train with boys. My manager pays them to help us in training,” explains Mary Keitany, whose female training partners include Peninah Arusei, the winner of the BIG 25 Berlin in 2008 and 2009, and Helena Kirop, who won the Prague Marathon on Sunday. In 2007 Mary Keitany won the silver medal in the World Half Marathon Championships, but then pregnancy interrupted her running career.
“My son Jared was born in June 2008,” says Mary Keitany. She is married to Charles Koech, who has a 10 k PB of 27:56 and has run a 61:27 half marathon. “Sometimes we train together. And we have a nanny to look after our son.”
“When Mary came back after giving birth we set some goals. The first one was to qualify for the World Half Marathon Championships 2009 and to run well. The next goal was to win the Abu Dhabi half marathon and then we set our sights on breaking the world 25 k record in Berlin. All went very well and she has achieved more than we had expected,” says Gabriele Nicola, who spends a lot of time overseeing the training of his runners in Iten. “But we have a team of coaches and physios in Iten so that there is always someone there to help.”
The next step will now be the marathon. In autumn Mary Keitany plans to run her debut at the distance. But already now she is doing milages that suit a marahton runner. “Of course it can vary a lot, but she has run between 180 and 200 kilometres in her recent training already”, explains Gabriele Nicola, who intends to add some more kilometres to this during the preparations for the marathon. “So far my longest training runs were 30 kilometres”, says Mary Keitany. Asked about her biggest goals she first mentions the Olympics in London in 2012. “It would be huge to win the Olympic gold medal in the marathon.” But there is also another major dream in the future: “May be one day I am able to attack the world marathon record,” says Mary Keitany. But she very well knows how tough it will be to break Paula Radcliffe’s 2:15:25 from London 2003.
“Right now we can not speak about the marathon world record. But Mary has the potential to go for it in the future. That does not mean that she will break it. But there are not many runners who can even think of attacking this record,” says Gabriele Nicola. “Mary has great potential, we are lucky to have her. We will only get a Mary Keitany every 20 years.”
Mary Keitany, Paul Kosgei and Gilbert Kirwa chase world records at the BIG 25 Berlin on Sunday
Mary Keitany poses in the Berlin Olympic stadium with the clock showing the current world record time. Together with her are Paul Kosgei (left) and Gilbert Kirwa.
Foto: Victah Sailer/photorun.net
[06.05.2010] Three Kenyan top stars will run the 30th edition of the BIG 25 Berlin this Sunday: Mary Keitany, Paul Kosgei and Gilbert Kirwa are ready for fast times. The jubilee edition of Germany’s oldest big city road race is very likely to see two world record attempts. The BIG 25 Berlin boost the strongest international field of any road race in Germany this spring. Organiser BERLIN RUNS expects a total field of around 10,000 runners.
For 28 year-old Mary Keitany the BIG 25 Berlin are a step towards her marathon debut which she plans to run either in Chicago or in New York this year. “I have trained well and have run up to 30 k in one session,” said Mary Keitany, who wants to attack the world record in what will be her first 25 k race. Although she will enter new territory it is likely that she instantly breaks the official world record listed by the IAAF. This mark from Mizuki Noguchi stands at 1:22:13. The Japanese had clocked this time during the Berlin Marathon 2005.
“Since I won the Abu Dhabi half marathon in January I have focused my training on the 25 k race in Berlin,” said Mary Keitany during Thursday’s press conference in the Aspria Spa and Hotel in Berlin. The Kenyan had taken the World Half Marathon title in stunning fashion in October 2009. Clocking 66:36 minutes in Birmingham she had an advantage of more than a minute and just missed the world record by eleven seconds. From the ten best times ever run at the distance Mary Keitany alone holds four, which is a remarkable achievement. But it was not just the half marathon, where Mary Keitany was number one in the world in 2009. With times of 31:04 and 62:59 minutes she also headed the season’s lists at 10 and 20 k.
Mary Keitany’s main opponents on Sunday will be Mare Dibaba (Ethiopia) and Pasalia Kipkoech (Kenya). 20 year-old Dibaba has shown great form in February, when she was second in the half marathon of Ras Al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) with 67:13 minutes. Kipkoech, who is just one year older than Dibaba, recently took the Berlin half marathon with 69:43 minutes.
If Mary Keitany succeeds in breaking the world record it would be the first time that the women’s mark would fall in the history of the BIG 25 Berlin. However the race so far has seen four world records in the men’s races (1993, 1997, 2001 and 2004).
The one who is the current world and course record holder has returned to the BIG 25 Berlin: It was in 2004, when Paul Kosgei ran 1:12:45. “It is my aim to achieve a sub 1:13 time on Sunday,” said the 32 year-old Kenyan, who originally intended to run a spring marathon. But an injury in February ruined these plans. Instead the World Half Marathon champion from 2002 opted to come back to the BIG 25 Berlin for the first time in 2004.
One of Paul Kosgei’s strongest challengers will be fellow Kenyan Gilbert Kirwa. Less than two years ago the 24 year-old competed outside Kenya for the first time. He quickly established himself as a world-class marathon runner. After winning his debut marathon in Vienna a year ago with 2:08:21 he took the Frankfurt Marathon in October with 2:06:14. In March Gilbert Kirwa was second in the Seoul Marathon with 2:06:59. Around a dozen Kenyan elite runners have entered the BIG 25 Berlin. One who could be in with a surprise is Joel Kimurer. He took the Prague Half Marathon in March clocking 60:09 minutes in windy conditions.
The BIG 25 Berlin will be started in front of the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. The course then leads the runners through the city centre of the capital, passing Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße, Gendarmenmarkt, Potsdamer Platz, the Memorial Church at Kurfürstendamm and the TV tower. The finish will be inside the Olympic Stadium.
Mary Keitany – the world’s number one road runner in 2009 chases world record in BIG 25 Berlin
Mary Keitany
Foto: Victah Sailer/photorun.net
[07.04.2010] Mary Keitany, the world’s number one road runner in 2009, will run the BIG 25 Berlin on 9th May. The 28 year-old has entered the 30th edition of Germany’s oldest big city road race with the aim to break the world 25 k record. More than 10,000 entries are expected for the BIG 25 Berlin, which will also feature a 10 k race, a 5x5 k relay and a children’s event. All events will finish on the blue track inside the famous Berlin Olympic Stadium, which saw the IAAF World Championships last summer. Online entry for the BIG 25 Berlin is still available at: www.berlin-laeuft.de
Mary Keitany took the World Half Marathon title in stunning fashion in October 2009. Clocking 66:36 minutes in Birmingham she had an advantage of more than a minute and just missed the world record by eleven seconds. From the ten best times ever run at the distance Mary Keitany alone holds four, which is a remarkable achievement.
But it was not just the half marathon, where Mary Keitany was number one in the world in 2009. With times of 31:04 and 62:59 minutes she also headed the season’s lists at 10 and 20 k.
For the first time Mary Keitany will run a 25 k race. Although she will enter new territory it is likely that she instantly breaks the official world record listed by the IAAF. This mark from Mizuki Noguchi stands at 1:22:13. The Japanese had clocked this time during the Berlin Marathon 2005. To prepare thoroughly for the BIG 25 Berlin Mary Keitany had given up her original plan to compete at the Lisabon Half Marathon in March.
The race will be started in front of the Olympic Stadium on 9th May. The course then leads the runners through the city centre of the capital, passing Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße, Gendarmenmarkt, Potsdamer Platz, the Memorial Church at Kurfürstendamm and the TV tower near the Olympic Stadium.
BIG 25 Berlin celebrates jubilee edition of Germany’s oldest city road race, new BIG 25 k race in Herne
Start of the BIG 25 Berlin in front of the Olympic Stadium
Foto: Victah Sailer/photorun.net
[06.01.2010] Germany’s oldest city road race will see a jubilee edition in 2010: The BIG 25 Berlin, which were first staged in spring 1981, will take place for the 30th time on 9th May. As in the past the course of the high-class 25 k race will lead from the ,Olympischer Platz’ in front of the Olympic Stadium into the city centre and then back with a spectacular finish inside the arena, which saw the IAAF World Championships in 2009. Brandenburg Gate, the famous boulevards Unter den Linden and Kurfürstendamm as well as Potsdamer Platz are among the tourist attractions passed by the runners.
A number of initiatives regarding the elite field as well as the fun runners are planned by organiser BERLIN RUNS for the jubilee edition of the race. Race Director Gerhard Janetzky intends to further develop the 25 k race, which had produced outstanding results in its 2009 edition. While Kenya’s Peninah Arusei had established a course record of 1:22:31 her fellow-countryman Matthew Koech won with 1:13:24. The present world record was also run at this race: Paul Kosgei (Kenya) had clocked 1:12:45 in 2004. While last year’s event had a total of 9,871 runners including shorter races organisers expect to register more than 10,000 athletes for the 30th edition. Online entry is available at: www.berlin-runs.com
Back in 1981 the race had been initiated by the French forces in West Berlin and was called ,25 km de Berlin’. It was the first major city road race in Germany and paved the way for others to follow. Because of the allied status the French forces were able to succeed in getting the roads blocked for the runners. No other organiser had managed to do this before. In the same year the city marathons in Frankfurt and Berlin followed the example and saw their first editions.
“By organising the BIG 25 Berlin we continue with a very special and traditional brand. 25 k are still an accepted and unmistakeable distance,” said Gerhard Janetzky, who for the first time will start a second BIG 25 race. This one will take place in Herne (western Germany) on 18th April. “If possible I would like to establish a third 25 k race in southern Germany,” Janetzky said. BERLIN RUNS also organise a second event in the capital: The 10 k race ASICS Grand 10 Berlin will take place on 10th October 2010.
BERLIN RUNS … 10 k with 6,489 runners from 25 nations - Jan Kreisinger and Joan Aiyabei win ASICS Grand 10 Berlin
The winner Joan Aiyabei
Foto: berlin runs.com / P. Dera
[11.10.2009] Kenya’s Joan Aiyabei produced the highlight at the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin on Sunday by breaking the course record in this 10 k race. While she clocked 33:48 minutes the men’s race was taken by Jan Kreisinger. The surprise winner from the Czech Republic clocked 29:46 in cold and partly wet conditions. Organisers of the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin registered a record number of 6,489 entries from 25 nations for the event, which also included a 2x5 k relay and a kid’s race. “We are happy about the record field and that figure shows that we are on track with this event,” stated Race Director Gerhard Janetzky, who intends to develop the ASICS Grand 10 into Germany’s major 10 k race.
In the men’s race a duel developed, when the expected favourite Faustin Musa (Tansania) and Jan Kreisinger surged away from the rest of the field. The two ran together until close to the 9 k mark. Then it was the 25 year-old Czech who took the lead and was able to drop his rival. “This simply is my weather. I am always doing well if it is cool and a bit wet. In hot conditions I would probably not have been able to beat Faustin Musa,” said Jan Kreisinger, who will try to qualify for the 5,000 m of next year’s European Championships.
While Faustin Musa took second place in 29:59 Germany’s 1,500 m specialist Wolfram Müller was third in 30:26. “For me as a middle distance runner this is a fine result at this time of the year,” said Wolfram Müller, who had placed fourth at the European Indoors in March in the 1,500 m final. But then a muscle injury in his leg ruined his hopes of qualifying for the World Championships in Berlin. Dieter Baumann showed that years after the end of his career he is still very fit. The 5,000 m Olympic Champion from Barcelona 1992 came in ninth with 32:53 minutes.
Baumann was still well ahead of women’s winner Joan Aiyabei, who finished in a course record of 33:48 minutes. “I had no idea about the course record. If it would have been warmer I would have been faster,” said the 30 year-old, who improved Ulrike Maisch’s record from 2008 (34:53) by more than a minute. Dawn Domaschk (USA/38:31) and Kathrin Wyss (Switzerland/38:52) took the next places well behind the winner.
Both course records targeted at ASICS Grand 10 Berlin as Faustin Musa and Joan Aiyabei start as favourites
The start of the race in front of the Schloss Charlottenburg in Berlin
Foto: berlin runs / J. Engler
[07.10.2009] Both course records are targeted at the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin. The 10 k road race in the centre of the German capital will take place on Sunday (11th October). Faustin Musa (Tansania) and Joan Aiyabei (Kenya) are the favourites. Organisers of the event have also included a non-elite 2x5 k relay and a mile race for children. They expect a record field of around 6,500 runners, making this one of the biggest 10 k races in Germany.
Tansania’s Faustin Musa is the favourite on Sunday. The 28 year-old has a personal best at 10 k of 28:22 minutes, which he established just little more than a month ago in Düsseldorf. The course record of the ASICS Grand 10 currently stands at 28:44 from Simon Kasimili (Kenya), who had won in 2008. Musa’s strongest rivals are likely to come from the Czech Republic and from Poland. Marcin Cabowski (Poland) has a PB of 28:27 minutes while Czech Jan Kreisinger has run 28:46. Robert Stefko is the Czech record holder at 10,000 m with 27:42.98 minutes. Though he has had his best time some years ago he is the reigning national cross country champion.
Germany’s marathon hope Falk Cierpinski will lead the national challenge in Berlin on Sunday. While middle distance runner Wolfram Müller will compete in a 10 k race for a change steeple chaser Steffen Uliczka will run his 10 k road race debut at the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin.
In the women’s race there is one big favourite: 30 year-old Kenyan Joan Aiyabei comes to Berlin with a 10 k personal best of 31:59 minutes. The present course record was established by European Marathon Champion Ulrike Maisch. The German had won with 34:53 minutes in 2008, a time which should be well broken by Joan Aiyabei on the fast course.
Paul Tergat intends to continue for one or two more years and targets another big marathon win
Paul Tergat taking part in the kids’ race of the BIG 25 last Sunday. In front of the Berlin Olympic Stadium, which will host the IAAF’s World Championships in August, he wears a German team vest. The bib number shows his Berlin world record time from 2003.
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
[13.05.2009] Paul Tergat intends to continue his career for another one or two more years and intends to win another major marathon with a very fast time. The great Kenyan said this in Berlin at the previous weekend, where he could not compete in the BIG 25 Berlin due to a back problem after a fall in training. Paul Tergat still came to Berlin to help promote the race. It was in this city, where he became the first marathoner to clock a sub 2:05 time in 2003 (2:04:55).
“This world record in Berlin in 2003 was the climax of my career,” said Paul Tergat, when revisiting the city for the first time again. “It was great to be back in Berlin. I feel a bit like coming back home, because I have a number of good friends living in the city.” When fellow Kenyan Matthew Koech took the race in 1:13:24 Paul Tergat congratulated him on his fine performance after holding the finishing tape in the Olympic Stadium. Asked what time he think would have been possible for himself in this 25 k race he said: “A sub 1:14 time would not have been a problem. My form was really very good and I was very motivated for this race since I never ran a 25 k event. So it was my aim to establish a strong personal best.” So far his PB at 25 k is his Berlin Marathon split time from 2003 (1:14:42).
Paul Tergat stressed that he does not want to give up his goal of a personal record in the 25 k: “There are not many races at this distance. But I hope to be able to come back to the BIG 25 next year.” He may however return to Germany earlier than 9th May 2010. “German races are always very well organised,” said Paul Tergat. So the marathon events in Berlin on 20th September or Frankfurt on 25th October could well be suitable for him. “I want to win another major marathon with a fast time. I think about a big marathon but it is unlikely that it will be a World Marathon Majors race.” In March this year the 39 year-old had taken the Lake Biwa Marathon (Japan) with 2:10:22. Asked if the Masters World Record of Andres Espinosa (Mexico/2:08:46) would be a goal once he turns 40 this summer Paul Tergat said: „This time is not a very big challenge for me. But right now I don’t want to say what sort of time might be possible for me.”
Speaking about recent developments in the marathon Paul Tergat said he does not believe in a sub two hour marathon. “I don’t think this will be possible in future because I believe that we are already near to the limit. To run 2:02 will be very, very hard. I think a time slightly above 2:03 is possible, but this also is getting really tough. If you run the first half faster than 61:30 minutes you will kill yourself.”
Next year’s BIG 25 Berlin will take place on 9th May 2010.
BERLIN RUNS will stage its second edition of the ASICS Grand 10 on 11th October this year. There runners can either compete in a 10 k race or in a 2x5 k relay.
BIG 25 BERLIN WITH 9,871 ENTRIES - Matthew Koech and Peninah Arusei take BIG 25 Berlin in best ever 25 k race
Peninah Arusei crossing the line in the Olympic Stadium.
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
[10.05.2009] Taking the two winners’ times the 29th edition of the BIG 25 Berlin produced the best ever 25 k race. Kenyans Matthew Koech and Peninah Arusei took advantage of the perfect weather conditions and clocked world leads on the fast course through Germany’s capital. 25 year-old Matthew Koech ran 1:13:24, which is the seventh fastest ever run at the distance. Peninah Arusei became the first runner to achieve a third victory in this race. The 30 year-old, who had taken the race in 2006 and 2008, clocked a course record of 1:22:31, which was the fourth fastest ever.
The BIG 25 Berlin also made big progress regarding the fun runners: 9,871 entries from 45 nations were registered for Germany’s oldest city road race. “We are very happy with this development. With today’s event we have managed to bring the race back to its former glory, when it was organised by the French allied forces in West Berlin. The ,25 km de Berlin’ used to set standards in German road running,” said Race Director Gerhard Janetzky.
For a long time it looked as if Matthew Koech might break the world and course records set by his fellow countryman Paul Kosgei in 2004 (1:12:45) in Berlin. He reached the 10 k point in 28:19 minutes together with Fred Kosgei and marathon world champion Luke Kibet (all Kenya). After 15 k (42:50) Koech was 20 seconds ahead of Kosgei, who later finished second in 1:14:35 while Luke Kibet (1:15:31) took third. In the final part of the race, when the course leads back to the Olympic Stadium and is slightly uphill, Matthew Koech could not keep the pace so that he missed the record.
Matthew Koech crossing the line in the Olympic Stadium.
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
"Nontheless I am very happy with my race. Now I want to run another fast half marathon. My aim is to clock a sub 59 minute time and qualify for the World Half Marathon Championships," Matthew Koech said. He had only known that he would run the BIG 25 Berlin on Thursday. After Paul Tergat had to cancel his start he was signed as a deputy for the great Kenyan.
The women’s race also was an extremely fast one right from the beginning. Peninah Arusei took the lead before the 10 k mark, which she past in a blistering 31:18 minutes. At that stage she was twelve seconds ahead of Caroline Cheptonui (Kenya) and well on course for the first sub 1:20 time of a woman. But similar to Matthew Koech Peninah Arusei slowed predictably in the final stages of the race. She then missed Mizuki Noguchi’s (Japan) world record of 1:22:13 by 18 seconds. “It is a pity, because if I would have known that it was that close I could have broken it. So I will come back next year to give it another try,” said Peninah Arusei, who smashed her course record from last year by more than 90 seconds (1:24:10). Furtuna Zegergish (Eritrea/1:22:57) and Caroline Cheptonui (Kenya/1:23:43) took second and third, beating the former course record as well.
Next year’s BIG 25 Berlin will take place on 9th May 2010.
BERLIN RUNS will stage its second edition of the ASICS Grand 10 on 11th October this year. There runners can either compete in a 10 k race or in a 2x5 k relay.
Bad luck for Paul Tergat: Injury stops him from competing, World Champion Luke Kibet jumps in
Paul Tergat and Peninah Arusei with children, who will compete in a 2 k race on Sunday. Tergat is given a special start number: 2:04:55 – his marathon world record from Berlin 2003.
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
[09.05.2009] There was bad luck for Paul Tergat: The Kenyan is unable to run the BIG 25 Berlin this Sunday after a fall during a training session last Monday in Ngong. Nontheless Paul Tergat came to Berlin to show his support for Germany’s oldest city road race, which will see its 29th edition on Sunday. It is the first time Paul Tergat is back in the city where he wrote athletics history, when becoming the first man to run a sub 2:05 marathon in 2003 (2:04:55).
Christoph Kopp, the elite athletes’ manager of the BIG 25 Berlin, only knew about Tergat’s injury since Wednesday afternoon but he still managed to sign a spectacular deputy for Paul Tergat. “Luke Kibet will now enter the BIG 25 with bib number 1,” said Christoph Kopp, causing a major surprise at the press conference in early afternoon today. The Kenyan is the reigning World Marathon Champion from Osaka 2007. He dropped out of the London Marathon with problems two weeks ago at around 32 km, but is said to be fit for a 25 k race.
The women’s field will see defending champion Peninah Arusei returning to the BIG 25. In 2008 she also set the 25 k course record of 1:24:10. Additionally she could become the first runner in the history of the event winning it three times. Arusei had first won the BIG 25 in 2006.
The race will be started at 10 am in front of the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. The course then leads the runners through the city centre of the capital, passing Brandenburg Gate, Friedrichstraße, Potsdamer Platz and Gedächtniskirche. The finish will be inside the Olympic Stadium. Organisers expect around 9,000 entries for their race, which will also include a 10 k race, a 5x5 k relay and a children’s race. More information is available online at: www.berlin-runs.com
"I was really looking forward to the BIG 25 because I have never ever run a 25 k race in my career. And I was really going for a very good time. But then on Monday I fell, because the surface was slippery because of the rain. At first it did not feel too bad, but at the next day I felt a problem in the back and my doctor told me not run, because then a serious problem could develop. I feel really sad, but wanted to come to support the race. And hopefully I will be able to come back and run the BIG 25 next year,” said Paul Tergat.
"With the help of Paul Tergat’s management, Dr. Rosa, we were able to sign another very strong Kenyan on short notice. Matthew Koech will be among the favourites on Sunday,” said Christoph Kopp. The Kenyan had placed fifth in this year’s Ras Al Khaimah half marathon clocking 59:54 minutes. Further Kenyan favourites will be Fred Kosgei and Richard Lagat. Kosgei is the winner of the Prague Half Marathon in 2008 and Lagat has a personal best of 28:28 minutes at 10 k. But it is Luke Kibet who knows the course best. The World Champion had won the BIG 25 in 2005 with 1:13:51 and had then placed second with 1:12:52 when Paul Kosgei (Kenya) established the 25 k world record of 1:12:45 in 2004. That time still stands today.
"I don’t think it is likely that we will see a result in the region of the world record, but we may have a chance regarding the European record,” said Christoph Kopp, who has signed Dmytro Baranovskiy. The Ukrainian marathon record holder (2:07:15) wants to go for this mark, which stands at 1:14:20. James Kibocha Theuri (France) ran this time during the Paris Marathon a month ago.
Defending champion and course record holder Peninah Arusei returns to the BIG 25 Berlin
Peninah Arusei winning the race in 2008.
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
[06.05.2009] Peninah Arusei will return to the BIG 25 Berlin as the defending champion next Sunday. The Kenyan had won the race, which famously finishes inside the Olympic Stadium, with a course record of 1:24:10 a year ago. As announced earlier Kenya’s running legend Paul Tergat will compete in this traditional 25 k race, which in 1981 was Germany’s first major international city road race. For Paul Tergat it will be the first time he will run a race in Germany since setting a world marathon record of 2:04:55 in Berlin in 2003. The race will be started in front of the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. The course then leads the runners through the city centre of the capital, passing Brandenburg Gate, Friedrichstraße, Potsdamer Platz and Gedächtniskirche. Organisers expect around 9,000 entries for their race, which will also include a 10 k race, a 5x5 k relay and a children’s race. More information is available online at: www.berlin-runs.com It is still possible to enter Sunday’s race. Bib numbers will be available on Friday (1 to 8 pm) and Saturday (10 am to 6 pm) at the BERLIN RUNS expo at the Ku’damm Karree on Kurfürstendamm 206 – 209. "It will not be easy for Peninah Arusei to defend her title at the BIG 25 Berlin, because she will meet tough opposition. There are two more women in the race who have run sub 70 minute half marathons. On Sunday it might be necessary to break the course record again to win this race," said Christoph Kopp, who is responsible for the elite runners of the BIG 25 Berlin. One who could be in with a chance is Magdaline Mukunzi (Kenya). She features a half marathon best of 68:52, which is just a little slower than Peninah Arusei. Pauline Wangui will also compete at the BIG 25 Berlin for the first time. She has shown fine form this season as well as in 2008. The Kenyan won the City Pier City Half Marathon in Den Hague in both years, clocking a personal best of 69:49 in 2008. In that year she was also second at the Berlin Half Marathon with another sub 70 minute time (69:51). Pauline Wangui clocked a personal 20 k best of 66:39 minutes two months ago, when winning the Dutch Alphen aan den Rijn race.
Paul Tergat will run BIG 25 in Berlin
Paul Tergat at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate in 2003. He will again run through the gate on 10th May
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
[07.04.2009] The BIG 25 Berlin on 10th May will be the next race for Kenya’s running hero Paul Tergat. Race Director Gerhard Janetzky announced the most spectacular signing in the history of Germany’s oldest city road race. The 25 k race was initiated by the French forces in West Berlin in 1981 and was then called ,25 km de Berlin’. It is renowned for its spectacular finish on the blue track of the Olympic Stadium. The course leads the runners from the arena through the city centre including Brandenburg Gate and back to the stadium, which will host the IAAF World Championships this August. Organisers expect up to 10,000 entries for their race, which will also include a 10 k race and a 5x5 k relay.
Almost six years after achieving his most spectacular victory in Berlin Paul Tergat returns to the German capital. Back in 2003 the Kenyan became the first ever marathon runner to break 2:05 hours. For those who want to run in the same race with Paul Tergat online entry is available at: www.berlin-laeuft.de
"We are extremely happy to have managed to sign one of the best runners in athletics history for the BIG 25 Berlin. Paul Tergat is not only one of the most successful athletes but a symbol for the sport of running and an idol for many. Additionally he takes social responsibilities and supports charity," said Gerhard Janetzky. Since 2004 Paul Tergat is an ambassador of the United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP).
Paul Tergat was the first one to win the long race of the World Cross Country Championships five times in a row from 1995 to 1999 – noone has more wins in a row at this event. But Paul Tergat was also successful in track and road races, which made him outstanding. There are only very few athletes who managed to have extraordinary success on all three surfaces. In the 90ies he broke world records at 10,000 m on the track as well as in 15 k and half marathon road races. At the Olympic Games in 1996 and 2000 Paul Tergat won two silver medals in the 10,000 m.
There were many great moments in Paul Tergat’s career. But most probably he had the best one in Berlin 2003, when he improved the world marathon record to 2:04:55. Never before had a runner covered the classic distance in a time faster than 2:05. Today Paul Tergat still ranks the fourth fastest marathon runner ever. On 10th May he will return to Berlin and compete at the BIG 25 for the first time.The course record set by Kenya’s Paul Koech in 2004 with 1:12:45 is the official world record at this distance as well. It remaims to be seen if Paul Tergat can threaten this mark. The 39 year-old still is in remarkable shape. At the beginning of March he had won the Lake Biwa Marathon in Japan with 2:10:22 despite suffereing of jetlag problems.
Open Letter
To the executive board of the German Athletics Association (DLV)
DLV participation in international championships, especially in the IAAF World Championships
[17.12.2008] On Sunday, December 14, 2008, the European Athletics Association (EAA) Cross Country European Championships will take place in Brussels. Surprisingly, the DLV has abandoned its usual practice and has sent six complete teams.
This is surprising, as it has been the DLV’s practice for years to nominate primarily youth teams and refrain from sending any men’s or women’s teams, even for championships taking place in neighbouring countries. In doing so, cross country events also did not receive the focus they should have gotten as a basis for athletic development in the winter months. What was true for specific age groups at the IAAF World Championships was demonstrated in a blatant manner for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. We were most often not represented at all, infrequently with only one or two athletes.
It is possible that the DLV and/or its trainers are starting a process of rethinking. Up until now, one has to assume that the DLV chose “assist” its athletes by not sending any teams to the international championships in order to “spare” them possible defeat, by keeping them home in training camps rather then sending them out to face the international competition. The result of this policy, rather, is the stagnation of athletic performances across the board.
This criticism of the DLV is directed less at their nomination practices for the European Championships, but rather toward those for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and World Marathon Championships. For one of the world’s largest athletics associations, this is both outright embarrassing and also ruinous for the reputation of German athletics.
Thus, for instance, the World Half Marathon Championships in 2008 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, took place without a single German athlete participating; at the World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, alone Susanne Hahn competed for Germany. The year prior, the DLV was missing completely at the World Half Marathon Championships in Udine, Italy, while through some pressure from the IAAF, at least one German junior team competed in the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya. The latter performed better than expected and even finished as the best European team in 12th place.
The fact is that the DLV is not only sending its athletes to the sideline internationally through these rigid policies (?), but is also refusing them an important opportunity to compare their performances with others. Even if an athlete runs at the back of the pack, this offers him a chance to really learn how to compete, rather than always racing only against home athletes of his own calibre and seemingly performing with ease.
As the largest athletics association in Germany, the DLV has a certain obligation vis-à-vis its umbrella organisation to be in attendance. The US Americans and the Japanese are always present at the international events with large teams—even if that sometimes means a few last place finishes. If the nomination criterion of “a chance to make it the finals”, as was recently imposed by the DLV for the Olympic Games, were to be the standard imposed by all countries, then—maybe slightly exaggerated—the east Africans from Kenya and Ethiopia would be competing among themselves in the long-distance events, as would the Jamaican and immigrant US-Americans from the Caribbean in the sprints.
One telling example of how success can be achieved through strength of purpose and consistency can be demonstrated by the US runners, who have been able to join the international elite in both the mid and long distances within just a few years. The justification provided by the DLV that there is no extra funding from the Ministry of the Interior for non-Olympic disciplines, such as cross country and half marathon events, is really incomprehensible. We believe: if there is a will, there’s a way. And that way has to be found. In a business country, which Germany is, should one maybe make a call for donations in order to make it possible to send talented and enthusiastic athletes from the German athletics association to the World Championship events?
It is not acceptable that the German functionaries in the international committees, such as professor Helmut Digel or Otto Klappert, are the only German representatives at the IAAF Championships—where they constantly face massive criticism and incomprehension from the heads of the IAAF.
At the World Championships in Athletics 2009 in Berlin, Germany, and thus also the DLV, are awaiting the best athletes from around the world to gather together in Berlin, even though the host has thus far been rather a poor role model at athletics events in the past. Switzerland is making a bid for hosting the 2014 European Championships in Zurich—and has already nominated a core team for 2014. This is long-term planning that is very foreign to the DLV. The German core team for the World Championships in Berlin was only presented about three months ago—in the face of the very disappointing performance of the Germans at the Olympic Games. Apparently, German athletics is going to have to fall into an even deeper hole before the leaders in the DLV will wake up.
Otto Klappert, Horst Milde, and Wilfried Raatz have been working with great dedication for many years in the running scene and have recently been appointed to the expert committee on running at the DLV. It is with great concern that they follow the “development” of the German mid- and long-distance runners. Maybe this “Open Letter” to the executive board of the German Athletics Association can aid in generating true “rethinking” in the heads of those responsible, so that the talented and courageous athletes can start their long-term planning and face international competition so they can develop further.
The undersigned have gladly recognised the nomination of complete DLV teams to the World Cross Country Championships in Brussels and are very pleased with this step in the right direction. Now it is in the hands of the leaders of the DLV that further steps follow.
Otto Klappert, Horst Milde, Wilfried Raatz
Simon Kasimili and Ulrike Maisch take inaugural edition of ASICS Grand 10 Berlin
Ulrike Maisch
Foto: Jürgen Engler
[12.10.2008] Kenyan Simon Kasimili and the reigning European Marathon Champion Ulrike Maisch (Germany) took the inaugural edition of the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin on Sunday, clocking 28:44 and 34:53 minutes. In ideal weather conditions 5,363 runners competed in this 10 k race, which included a 2x5 k relay as well. More than 50,000 spectators lined the course which led through the city centre and the Berlin Zoo, passing for example lions and rhinos.
Simon Kasimili had taken the lead early in the race together with fellow Kenyan John Mutai. While Mutai lost contact before the 5 k mark third-placed André Pollmächer gradually closed the gap. The German, who had won the 10,000 m European Cup in 2007, soon caught John Mutai, but Simon Kasimili did not slow in the final stages, winning with a four second margin from André Pollmächer. “It was fun running through the zoo though of course I had no time to look at the animals,” said Simon Kasimili, who believes that the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin are another course in the German capital that will see extraordinary fast times in the future. “I believe that in the coming years we will see times in the region of 27:30 minutes here – it is possible on this course,” said the Kenyan.
Simon Kasimili, winner of the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin
Foto: Engler
After an absence of more than a year due to various injuries André Pollmächer was happy with his comeback in Berlin. Clocking 28:48 minutes for second place the 25 year-old ran a German season’s best. “I think I have done well today and I am on the right track now for more,” André Pollmächer said. He will now concentrate on his final preparations for his marathon debut in Frankfurt on 26th October. John Mutai (Kenya) took third place in the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin with 29:25 minutes.
The women’s race was a domestic affair. Julia Viellehner took the lead early in the race, leaving behind Ulrike Maisch. But the European Marathon Champion, who had various injury and health problems after Gothenburg 2006, caught Julia Viellehner at half way and then took the lead after 6 k. While Ulrike Maisch clocked 34:53 minutes Julia Viellehner remained second with 36:05. Not at her best today Claudia Dreher took third with a distant 37:54. “I had hoped for a faster time, but still I am not unhappy with my performance. And it is nice to win this inaugural edition of the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin. There was a lot of support along the course,” said Ulrike Maisch, who tends to do some cross country races before preparing a spring marathon.
Olympic Champion Dieter Baumann was one of a number of prominent athletes who competed in Berlin this Sunday. “10 k are a great distance for runners. I believe that this race will develop fine in the coming years,” said Dieter Baumann, who jogged along the course together with a group of fun runners, finishing in 48:40 minutes. “I will definately be back next year – but then I will run serious!”
New Berlin Road Race ASICS Grand 10 starts Sunday with Olympic Champions Baumann and Cierpinski
Dieter Baumann
Foto: photorun.net
[10.10.2008] A new Berlin road race, the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin, will see its inaugural edition this Sunday with a number of prominent German athletes: Olympic Champion Dieter Baumann (5.000 m in 1992) will run the 10 k race while Waldemar Cierpinski (Olympic Marathon Champion in 1976 and 1980) as well as the Triathlon Olympic Champion from Tokyo Jan Frodeno will participate in a 2x5 k relay. The organisers from BERLIN RUNS, a new group which already successfully has taken over as the organiser of Berlin’s traditional 25 k race in May, expect the race to have more than 6,000 runners.
With start and finish positioned in front of one of Berlin’s most famous landmarks, the Schloß Charlottenburg, the course leads through the city centre of Berlin. As a special attraction participants will run through the Berlin Zoo, passing for example lions, stags and rhinos.
Stephan Freigang, the Olympic bronze medallist from Barcelona 1992, is another prominent athlete who will participate in the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin on Sunday. “To have four German Olympic medal winners in the first edition of the race is extraordinary and makes us proud – there could not have been a better start,” said Race Director Gerhard Janetzky, who is also the Meeting Director of Berlin’s AF Golden League Meeting DKB ISTAF.
Although 43 year-old Dieter Baumann still is in fine form others will go for victory on Sunday. After a long absence due to an injury André Pollmächer starts his comeback, now concentrating on road running. The promising German distance runner will be up against Kenyans Simon Kasimili and Peter Koech while German steeple chaser Filmon Ghirmai, who is coached by Dieter Baumann, could also play a part.
The women’s 10 k race will feature the German trio Ulrike Maisch, Claudia Dreher and Julia Viellehner. The reigning European Marathon Champion Ulrike Maisch, who had surprisingly taken the gold in 2006 but then suffered from various injuries and health problems, is said to have trained well and regained promising form. For Claudia Dreher the ASICS Grand 10 Berlin will be the final test before running the Dresdner Kleinwort Frankfurt Marathon on 26th October.
Arusei breaks course record of Chepkemei, Karuku surprise winner in men’s race
Winner Samuel Karuku
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
[04.05.2008] BERLIN RUNS, the new organiser of the traditional Berlin 25 k race, had a perfect start this Sunday. The 28th edition of what is Germany’s oldest big city road race produced high-class winning times: While Samuel Karuku (Kenya) surprisingly took the men’s race with 1:13:49 his fellow countrywoman Peninah Arusei established a new course record of 1:24:10. Adding all running events 8,142 athletes from 23 nations had entered the event, which finished inside the Berlin Olympic Stadium. The figure was up by more than 1,000 runners compared to last year, showing that BERLIN RUNS is on its way to bring back the race to former glory. More than 50,000 spectators lined the course through Berlin’s city centre.
Among the total figure of 8,142 entries there were 6,012 runners for the 25 k distance. 1,628 had entered the 10 k event while 502 children ran a 2 k race. “This is a superb start for us. Entry figures are up by a big margin compared to a year ago. Additionally we got superb winning times. Combining the two winning times the race never ever had such high quality results,” said Race Director Gerhard Janetzky, who is also in charge of the AF Golden League Meeting DKB-ISTAF which will be staged on 1st June in the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Winner Peninah Arusei
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
“I had trained will and knew that I would be able to achieve a very good time,” said 28 year-old Samuel Karuku, who clocked a world class time of 1:13:49. It was the third fastest race in the history of the event, which was first started in 1981. The Chicago Marathon winner Patrick Ivuti (1:14:04) and Gilbert Chepkwony (1:14:11) placed second and third. For the eighth time in a row the winner came from Kenya.
The women’s race saw the expected battle between Peninah Arusei, who had won the race two years ago, and defending champion Flomena Chepchirchir (both Kenya). At the end Arusei was well ahead and broke the eight year-old course record set by world-class marathoner Susan Chepkemei (1:24:29). “I am happy to have won this race again and to have broken the course record. Now I will prepare for the track season,” said 29 year-old Peninah Arusei. Flomena Chepchirchir took second with 1:24:55. Arusei became the first woman to win the Berlin 25 k race and the half marathon in the same year.
Next year’s 25 k race will be staged on 10th May 2009. The Berlin Olympic Stadium will be the stage for the IAAF World Championships later in 2009 as well. Despite the finish being right at the venue of these championships local organisers did not cooperate with BERLIN RUNS so no advertisement was seen in the stadium.
Chicago Marathon winner Patrick Ivuti and Peninah Arusei among the favourites on Sunday
The new event organisers Christoph Kopp and Gerhard Janetzky (right) in the Olympic Stadium. Kopp is involved in road racing for decades while Janetzky is the meeting Director of the Berlin AF Golden League Meeting DKB-ISTAF.
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
[02.05.2008] Kenya’s world-class runner Patrick Ivuti will be among the favourites this Sunday, when the traditional Berlin 25 k race will take place. In the women’s race Peninah Arusei will be up against defending champion Flomena Chepchirchir (both Kenya). Adding all running events organisers from BERLIN RUNS expect well over 7,000 participants. This is a 10 percent increase compared to last year’s figures. The start of the race is in front of Berlin’s Olympic Stadium while the finish will be on the blue track inside the arena.
29 year-old Patrick Ivuti, who had been fourth in the Olympic 10,000 m final in 2000 and twice won a silver medal in the World Cross Country Championships, celebrated his biggest marathon win in October 2007. Ivuti took the Chicago Marathon, which is a World Marathon Majors (WMM) race. In unusually high temperatures he won the race after a sprint finish with 2:11:11. His marathon best stands at 2:07:46 while he clocked a world-class time of 59:27 minutes for the half marathon in 2007. After suffering of malaria Patrick Ivuti had to cancel his start at the Boston Marathon in April. Now he is said to be fit again. The 25 k race in Berlin will be a crucial test for him regarding his next marathon race, which is scheduled for June.
Matthew Koech
Foto: Victah Sailer / photorun.net
Patrick Ivuti’s main rivals on Sunday will be fellow Kenyans. Among them is Matthew Koech, who has the advantage of knowing the course. In very warm weather conditions Koech was third last year with a time of 1:15:48. Another one in with a good chance of winning should be Elijah Keitany. He impressed with a third place in the Berlin Half Marathon a month ago, clocking a world-class time of 60:10 minutes.
The women’s race should become a Kenyan affair as well. Defending champion Flomena Chepchirchir will be in for another battle with Peninah Arusei. Arusei had won the race two years ago, but then finished second in 2007 with 1:26:17 behind Chepchirchir (1:25:38). Peninah Arusei had shown impressive form earlier this year, when she won the Berlin Half Marathon in 68:22 minutes. But there could well be a third Kenyan woman involved in the battle for victory on Sunday: Jemima Jelagat was fourth in last year’s Frankfurt Marathon with 2:29:41. The weather forecast seems to be suitable for fast times with temperatures below 20° C and no wind. So the women will go for the course record of 1:24:29.
Berlin half marathon champion Peninah Arusei chases course record
Peninah Arusei at the Berlin half marathon
Foto: Rene van Zee / www.berlin-laeuft.de
[08.04.2008] Peninah Arusei will go for a unique double on 4th May: Never before has a woman won both the big Berlin spring races in the same year. Last Sunday the 29 year-old Kenyan took the Berlin half marathon in fast 68:22 minutes. After that Peninah Arusei decided to go for the BERLIN RUNS ... 25 k on 4th May. Organisers announced that meanwhile close to 5,000 runners have entered the traditional event, which will be started in front of the Olympic Stadium. The finish will be inside the arena on the famous blue track, which will see the World Championships in athletics in 2009.
Peninah Arusei has already won the Berlin 25 k race two years ago. Additionally she had placed third in 2005 and was second a year go. Her personal best stands at 1:26:17 from Berlin 2007. But her current form suggests that she should be able to clearly improve. “May be she is the one who finally manages to break the course record which is now already nine years old,” said Christoph Kopp, the Elite Race Director of the race. Back in 1999 world-class marathon runners Susan Chepkemei (Kenya) had clocked 1:24:29 in Berlin.
Berlin’s 25 k race has a unique background. It had been founded by the French forces in West-Berlin back in 1981. At that time it was Germany’s first major city race. And it used to be the biggest German road race again and again until 1990. The 25 k race had well over 10,000 runners at that time. The course leads runners past a number of Berlin’s most famous landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße, Potsdamer Square and Kurfürstendamm. The course is a fast one as well. Kenyan Paul Kosgei ran the current world record of 1:12:45 in Berlin in 2004.
,25 km von Berlin’ on May 4th, 2008: A traditional race on its way back to success
[20.10.2007] The new organisers of Berlin’s traditional 25 k race ,25 km von Berlin’ intend to bring back former glory to the race. The new organisation BERLIN RUNS, which was formed recently and took over from the regional athletics federation, is guided by two well-known figures in international athletics: Gerhard Janetzky, Meeting Director of Berlin’s IAAF Golden League Meeting ISTAF, and Christoph Kopp. Kopp is the former Elite Race Director of the Berlin Marathon. He works for a number of international road races like the Frankfurt- and Düsseldorf-Marathon. And he has already been in charge of the 25 k race in recent years.
Berlin’s 25 k race has a unique background. It had been founded by the French forces in West-Berlin back in 1981. At that time it was Germany’s first major city race. And it used to be the biggest German road race again and again until 1990. The 25 k race had well over 10,000 runners at that time.
“In a city like Berlin such a race has to have more than 10,000 runners – alos because the course is such an attractive one”, said Gerhard Janetzky. The start of the race is in front of the Olympic Stadium. The route then leads runners past a number of Berlin’s most famous landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße, Potsdamer Square and Kurfürstendamm. The finish will remain on the famous blue track of Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. The course is a fast one as well. Kenyan Paul Kosgei ran the current world record of 1:12:45 in Berlin in 2004.
Besides the 25 k race organisers will include a 10 k event, a 5x5 k relay and a race for children – all finishing inside Olympic Stadium.
