After a streak of four wins including two world records by Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) this year´s real,- BERLIN MARATHON on September 26th is going to be the platform for several young and ambitious world class runners to better their personal records. Seven runners in the field have personal records faster than 2:07 hrs, three of them have yet run under 2:06hrs lead by Patrick Makau and Geoffrey Mutai (both Kenya) who have clocked the two fastest times this year by winning the Rotterdam Marathon (resp. placing 2nd): 2:04:48 (Makau) and 2:04:55 hrs (Mutai). Both runners know about the flat and fast course in the German capital and hope for favourable weather conditions.
Patrick Makau knows the Berlin streets very well after having won the Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 2007 and 2008 clocking a course and personal record of 58:56 min (2007). Meanwhile he has bettered his PB to 58:52 min by winning the RAK half marathon in 2009 making him the 3rd fastest half marathon runner of all time.
Another contender for winning this prestigious marathon is Eliud Kiptanui. The runner from Kenya recently won the Prague Marathon in a time of 2:05:39 hrs. This effort is especially remarkable considering his age (21) and the fact that this was only his 2nd marathon (and the first one outside of Kenya). Bazu Worku (20 years old from Ethiopia) was 2nd at the Paris Marathon in 2009 (2:06:15) and Gilbert Yegon (22, Kenya) won the Amsterdam Marathon 2009 (2:06:18). Yemane Tsege Adhane (25, Ethiopia) was 4th at the Paris Marathon 2009 (2:06:30).
With expected one million spectators along the scenic loop course the race is covered live by n-tv (nationally), Eurosport (Germany and Europe resp. Asia) and Fuji TV (Japan). Starting time in September 26th is 9 a.m.
You can also watch it online on: www.universalsports.com/marathon/index.html or on www.n-tv.de.
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