The first fall marathon of the World Marathon Majors series starts Sunday in Berlin. © www.photorun.net
Anniversary races have traditionally yielded outstanding results in the long, prestigious history of the real- Berlin Marathon: a marathon that attracts nearly 41,000 runners from 107 countries. Ten years ago, in the 25th anniversary of Germany’s largest race, Brazilian runner Ronaldo da Costa set a world record. Da Costa crossed the finish line (then still on the avenue of the Kurfürstendamm) in 2:06:05. He became the first runner to average 4:48 minutes per mile. He was also the first to reach an average speed of over 12.4 miles per hour.
Five years later in the 30th running of the race, the men’s winner also made marathon history. Paul Tergat won it in 2:04:55-the first person ever to dip under the 2:05 mark. Tergat also became the first runner to pass under the Brandenburg Gate and cross the new finish line.
Last year, Haile Gebrselassie bettered the world record. On a flat course famous for its speed, the Ethiopian ran a jaw-dropping 2:04:26! Now Gebrselassie wants to run even faster-hoping to take advantage of the race’s tradition of producing fast anniversary performances. His goal: to be the first ever to run under 2:04.
Haile Gebrselassie’s biggest opponent in Berlin may be the Kenyan, Charles Kamathi, who knows how to race Ethiopians. He is the same Kamathi who was the surprise winner in the 10,000 meter at the World Championships in Edmonton in 2001, breaking the Ethiopian dominance of the event. Up until that race, Gebrselassie had won the world title on four consecutive occasions. He finished third behind Kamathi. The Kenyan is fairly new to the marathon and has improved his personal best time to 2:07:33 (run this year in Rotterdam).
Three other runners who have run under 2:08 in their careers will also compete in Berlin: Gudisa Shentema (Ethiopia/2:07:34), Toshinari Suwa (Japan/2:07:55) and the winner of Berlin 2001, Joseph Ngolepus (Kenya/2:07:57). Also worth watching is James Kwambai (Kenya/2:10:20), who was second in Boston in 2007. Of the German elite runners, it will be interesting whether Falk Cierpinski (SG Spergau) can continue his improvement. The son of the double-Olympic champion Waldemar Cierpinski, Falk brought his personal best down to 2:15:48 in Hamburg in April and stands at the top of the German rankings for the year.
In the women’s field, Germany’s new world-class marathon runner Irina Mikitenko (TV Wattenscheid) takes center stage. Mikitenko, who won the Flora London Marathon in April, could become the first German since Berlin’s Uta Pippig (1995) to win the race. In addition, she has the potential to improve the existing German record of 2:24:14 that was set in London.
A year ago in Berlin, Mikitenko ran her marathon debut and finished second behind the Ethiopian Gete Wami. On Sunday her strongest opponent, Askale Tafa Magarsa, is also from Ethiopia. Magarsa brought her personal best down to 2:23:23 in Dubai in January. This time is definitely within Mikitenko’s capabilities.
“I’m in very good form and want to win on Sunday,” said Magarsa, who will celebrate her 24th birthday on Saturday.
Other strong contenders for the win are Kenyans Rose Cheruiyot (2:25:48) and last year’s third-place finisher, Helena Kiprop (2:26:27).
