The leading group with the winner Patrick Musyoki (No 12). © MR
Once again the traditional 25-kilometer race in Berlin produced some very good results. The event that in the eighties was Germany’s first big city road race saw yet another Kenyan winner: Patrick Musyoki won the 26th edition in the second fastest time of the year in 1:14:08 hours. For the sixth time in a row the Kenyans have now taken the 25K of Berlin. As all the other runners the 21 year-old Musyoki finished in the Olympic Stadium in fine but warm weather conditions. He almost missed out on victory, because he took the wrong turn just inside the Olympic Stadium. But he turned immediately already facing his compatriot Francis Bowen just behind him. With a very strong last 400 meters Patrick Musyoki sprinted towards victory leaving Francis Bowen (1:14:12) behind. „It was a great race and the weather was perfect for me. In the stadium I was a little bit irritated but nevertheless I won,” said the winner. So the Kenyan winning streak remains unbroken at the Run Berlin. In the women’s race Peninah Arusei from Kenya won in 1:26:25 hours. She improved her personal best by more than three minutes. „It was a good race although I had to run most of the time by myself,” Peninah Arusei said after finishing. Asale Tafa (Ethiopia) was able to finish second despite of her slow first half of the race. She clocked 1:28:13. Kristina Loonen (Netherlands) was the best European. She finished third in 1:30:42 hours.
10,495 participants
„It was a great event with superb weather and good results. That is of course nice for the spectators, who had contrary conditions last year. We were able to increase the number of participants once more and are very pleased with that,” Race Director Derk Kogelheide explained. All together 10,495 athletes had entered the Run Berlin with various events. 6,186 of them participated in the 25K race.
“I knew I would have a chance”
In the men’s race the Kenyans showed once more their dominant position in international road running. Right from the start a leading group of nine men ran their own race throughout the 25K long course. At kilometer six the Kenyan Edwin Yano couldn’t stay with the leading group and also Luke Metto dropped back from the leaders at 13K. “After 10K the pacemakers were too slow. So I pushed the pace a bit,” Patrick Musyoki said. The last pacemaker dropped out at 15K (44:12 minutes). The three leaders Patrick Musyoki, Elijah Sang and Francis Bowen passed 20K in 59:22 minutes. “At 23K I knew I would have a chance to win, so I increased the pace,” Patrick Musyoki said. He ran the last kilometer in 2:43 minutes. Favorite Elijah Sang couldn’t stand the pace of Musyoki and Bowen and had to let them get away three kilometers ahead of the finish. He finished third in 1:14:33. It is the fifth time in a row that only Kenyans finished within the top three at the 25K of Berlin. “I am expecting to return next year and will try to improve my personal best once more,” the winner said.
Peninah Arusei improved her PB by over three minutes. © MR
In the women’s race Peninah Arusei made it six wins in a row for Kenya at this race. The first 10K (34:22 minutes) were quite fast, due to a slightly downhill course in that part. „I am happy with my new personal best,” said Peninah Arusei who led the field from the beginning. After 9K the leading group broke up. Peninah Arusei increased the pace and ran the rest of the race alone. Asale Tafa couldn’t follow and finished in 1:28:13. For the second time in history of the Run Berlin a Dutch finished within the top three. Kristina Loonen was third in 1:30:42.
