Champion Bekele favourite as Berlin Marathon returns

Two years after coming within two seconds of breaking Eliud Kipchoge’s world marathon record, Ethiopian superstar Kenenisa Bekele returns to Berlin, Germany this weekend as the favourite to defend his title as the Berlin Marathon makes a return on 26 September.

This is the world's largest marathon since the pandemic began, but still, the organisers have been forced to cut the field to almost half of the runners that took part in the 2019 edition of the marathon.

“Given the continuing conditions imposed by the pandemic, the number of starters for this year has been considerably reduced. Two years ago the BMW Berlin-Marathon registered a record 43,987 finishers who ran through the Brandenburg Gate to the finish line. This year around 25,000 runners are expected to compete. This number would make the BMW Berlin-Marathon the biggest marathon worldwide since the Corona pandemic began,” read the organiser’s statement.

Bekele clocked 2:01:41 in Berlin in 2019 and organisers and pundits alike anticipate a very fast and dramatic title defence. The 39-year old who shares a stable at NN Running Team with Kipchoge has been touted as the most likely athlete to break Kipchoge’s record. The two are yet to face off in the same race.

Bekele will have competition from his fellow Ethiopian Guye Adola, a half marathon specialist who boasts a marathon personal best of 2:03:36. Set on his marathon debut in the 2017 Berlin Marathon. He challenged Kipchoge to finish second setting the fastest marathon debut ever.

Kenya’s Philemon Kacheran, another NN Running Team member is also in the field as the fastest Kenyan entered and third fastest in the elite list with a time of 2:06:05.

In the women’s race, Ethiopian Hiwot Gebrekidan is the strong contender for the women’s title. The women’s race also offers potential for a top time, given the presence of Gebrekidan who has run the fastest women’s marathon in the world this year in taking the Milan title with a personal best of 2:19:35.

Good strength in depth is also a keynote of both elite fields: the men feature a dozen runners with personal bests of sub 2:07 while the women’s field shows five who have run under 2:25 and another four sub 2:30. Two of Germany’s leading marathoners will be competing on Sunday: Philipp Pflieger and Rabea Schöneborn, the latter competing in her home city.

The BMW Berlin-Marathon has an unparalleled history in terms of the eleven world records broken on its course. Marathon landmarks in history have been achieved here, firstly in 2001 when Japan’s Olympic champion Naoko Takahashi ran 2:19:46 to become the first woman to break 2:20. Two years later Paul Tergat became the first man to break 2:05 when the Kenyan won in 2:04:55. The current men’s world record was also set at the BMW Berlin-Marathon when Kipchoge ran 2:01:39.