Four times Haile Gebrselassie had modified the real, - Berlin Marathon won - which previously managed no other runners in the history of the race, which began in 1974, and certainly not in a row. His course record of 2:03:59 hours, the Superstar of Ethiopia in 2008 sets up, is still the world record. On Sunday, however, lacks Haile Gebrselassie, for he has other plans this year. But what at first glance looks like a disadvantage, could walk to the benefit. For such a chance, the Kenyans have been waiting for: In the absence of Haile Gebrselassie they will stake my everything to get back on the super-fast track the Berlin marathon world record. This is for the Kenyan athletes dominate the world's great road races than any other nation, as a government contract. Anyone who manages to wrest the world record Haile Gebrselassie will, for heroes in Kenya.
Through this situation, the audience on Sunday will see a different race than in past years. Four times the last race of the men was cut to Haile Gebrselassie. Now the race for the 40,000-euro prize money is more open than last, it can stay up in the exciting closing stages, while still very fast.
World and track records are in the women certainly out of reach. But for that once again could be a strong German element move into the spotlight. Two years after the victory of Mikitenko (TV Wattenscheid), although the Ethiopian women are favored in Berlin, but Sabrina Mockenhaupt (Cologne Marathon Association) goes at least with very good placement opportunities at the start.
The two so far this year's fastest marathon runner in the world - the Kenyans Patrick Makau and Geoffrey Mutai - have opted for a launch at the Berlin Marathon. They know that they can still run a little faster than in April in Rotterdam, where the last part of the race a strong wind the runners slowed down. At that time, Patrick Makau won in 2:04:48 hours with just seven seconds ahead of Geoffrey Mutai (2:04:55). If they start in Berlin, is about to attack the world record.
Patrick Makau is only a second per mile faster than in Rotterdam, he is already quite close to it in the mark of Haile Gebrselassie. The balance of the Berlin Patrick Makau is flawless: in the German capital, the 25-year-old walked four times so far at the start and always won. 2006 and 2007 he won the 25 km from Berlin, 2007 and 2008 the half marathon. But in a race over the classic distance of 42.195 km, of course, can happen.
Start the first time in his career, in contrast, will be Berlin Geoffrey Mutai. The 28-year-old has shown remarkable form in the summer, when he reached into a 10,000-meter race in the performance features high altitude of Nairobi 27:27,59 minutes. A few weeks later, he reiterated at the African championships this performance and won by a little worse time the bronze medal. Geoffrey Mutai will be ready for a big race in Berlin.
Speaking of men a lot of evidence that the fastest athlete is in the field of 40 945 runners from 122 nations from Kenya, is expected in the women rather an Ethiopian victory. This Bezunesh Bekele Kebede and Aberu are the favorites. The 27-year-old Bekele is in with a best time of 2:23:09 hours, the fastest runner field. Although this personal record is two and a half years old, but Bekele ran the London Marathon in April in fourth with 2:23:17 hardly slower. The three years younger Kebede increased in January in 2:24:26 and won in Dubai in April with a 2:25:29 in Rotterdam.
The duel of the two Ethiopian women may be equally exciting as the battle for third place, could intervene in the Sabrina Mockenhaupt (Cologne Marathon Association). The 29-year-old runner from the start Siegerland for the first time at the Berlin Marathon. You want to use the flat track and the rousing atmosphere to make a next step towards world-class marathon. Their goal is a time of under 2:25 hours - a family record of her father Alfred (2:24:59) should fall on Sunday and her personal best time of 2:26:22 anyway. Number three seems to be in range and, who knows, maybe at the end is even more concerned, the two favored Ethiopian women do with the speed and break into the final period. In the World Marathon Majors (WMM) series, which along with Berlin and Boston, London, Chicago and New York are, should Sabrina Mockenhaupt points for the first time. To achieve it must be at least fifth place.
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