Patrick Musyoki continues Kenyan hold on the Run Berlin 25km (© Marisa Reich)
The 2006 champions from Kenya, Patrick Makau Musyoki and Peninah Arusei, will return to defend their titles on Sunday (6) at the famous 25km race in the Germany capital.
The two titleholders hope for a fast race in which the course records could become a target. In case of the men’s time of 1:12:45 that is also the World record.
The '25 km von Berlin' has a great tradition in Germany. Back in 1981 it had been the first big city road race in Western Germany. In the 27th edition this Sunday organisers from the Berlin athletics federation expect a field of more than 9000 participants from 42 nations to take part. This includes other events staged in the 'Run Berlin' to which the 25km race belongs. Races start outside the Olympic Stadium and the finish is on the blue track inside the arena.
Patrick Makau Musyoki intends to extend his Berlin win streak. A year ago he ran his first race in the German capital, when winning the 25km race in 1:14:08 in very warm weather conditions. The 22-year-old then returned to the city a month ago, when he clocked the fourth fastest half marathon time in history with his victory in 58:56 minutes. This suggests that he might be capable of achieving a result in the region of the course record, which is also the World record: Paul Kosgei (Kenya) had won the race in 1:12:45 back in 2004.
“It is my aim to break this record. But we have to see how the race goes and how the weather is on Sunday,” said Musyoki.
Among his competitors there are a number of strong Kenyans. William Kiplagat is one of them. The Kenyan has a personal best in the marathon of 2:06:50 from Amsterdam in 1999. Matthew Koech is another one to watch. He has recently improved his half marathon best to 60:57 minutes.
In the women’s race the defending champion Peninah Arusei is the favourite again. She had clocked 1:26:25 a year ago, when temperatures climbed to around 25° Celsius at the end of the race.
“She has clearly improved at shorter distances this season”, said Christoph Kopp, the elite race director of the Run Berlin. In Paderborn the Kenyan had clocked 31:46 minutes for 10km last month. “Perhaps she can finally break our course record”, Kopp added. Since 1999 that mark from Susan Chepkemei (Kenya) stands at 1:24:29.
In Magdaline Chemjor (Kenya) appearance another former winner of the 25km race will return to Berlin. She had taken the race victory twice, in 2001 and 2002. A year later she clocked her personal best at the distance in Berlin with 1:25:02, finishing second. Flomena Chepchirchir (Kenya) and Russia’s Natalya Volgina could be in with a chance on Sunday as well.
Jörg Wenig for the IAAF
