Tecla Loroupe, Patrick Makau inducted into Berlin Marathon Hall of Fame ahead of historic 50th edition
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 28.09.24. | 12:37
The two Kenyan distance-running legends, who both set world records on the fast Berlin course, were honored ahead of the 50th edition of the prestigious World Marathon Majors event
Former marathon world record holders Tegla Loroupe and Patrick Makau were inducted into the Berlin Marathon Hall of Fame on Thursday, during a ceremony held at the Hotel Intercontinental in Berlin, Germany.
The two Kenyan distance-running legends, who both set world records on the fast Berlin course, were honored ahead of the 50th edition of the prestigious World Marathon Majors event, set to take place on Sunday, 29 September.
Tegla Loroupe made history in 1999 as the first Kenyan woman to break the marathon world record, clocking 2:20:43 at the Berlin Marathon. At the time, Loroupe was based in Detmold, Germany, with her manager, Volker Wagner.
Loroupe, who dominated distance running in the 1990s, has an impressive résumé that includes victories at the New York City Marathon (1994, 1995), Rotterdam Marathon (1997), Rome Marathon (2000), London Marathon (2000), and Lausanne Marathon (2002).
"I really wanted to bring the record to Berlin,” she said after the recognition.
Between April 1998 and September 2001, Loroupe held the marathon world record, initially setting a time of 2:20:47 at the Rotterdam Marathon before breaking it the following year in Berlin.
She is now 51 and continues giving back to the sport through the Tegla Loroupe Peace Academy in Kapenguria, West Pokot, which provides modern training for athletics and other sports.
Patrick Makau also etched his name into history with a record-breaking run in 2011, when he posted a time of 2:03:38 in Berlin.
This came after his victory the previous year, where he triumphed despite difficult weather conditions.
"After winning in the rain, my goal was clear: I wanted to break the world record in Berlin because the course and conditions are ideal," Makau said during the press conference.
Another Kenyan great, Paul Tergat, is expected to be inducted into the Berlin Marathon Hall of Fame on Friday. Tergat broke the 2:05:00 barrier in 2003, winning the Berlin Marathon in 2:04:55.
