Berlin Marathon announces elite field for first major race since the Olympics
The elite fields for the 2016 Berlin Marathon were announced on Thursday and the world's fastest marathon didn't disappoint.
The world’s fastest marathon will have one of the fastest-ever fields at the end of the month.
The 43rd Berlin Marathon on Sept. 25 announced on Thursday the full elite list for the race that has seen nine world records set in the German capital. The men’s field will feature Kenenisa Bekele, 34, one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time, and Aberu Kebede is the top woman in the field.
Eight men who have personal bests under 2:08 will run the first of the major fall races. Meanwhile, the women’s field is notably less deep with only four women having run below 2:25. Emmanuel Mutai, with a lifetime best of 2:03:13, is the fastest in the men’s field.
One of the highlights of the 2015 Berlin Marathon was the wardrobe malfunction of winner Eliud Kipchoge. The Kenyan ran much of the race with the insole of his Nike Streaks halfway out of his shoe and still finished in a blistering 2:04. See video here. Kipchoge, the winner of the Olympic marathon, will not be in Berlin for this year’s race.
Alemania, tierra de éxitos para Aberu Kebede. La etÃope ganó en BerlÃn en 2010 y 2012 y ahora la #FrankfurtMarathon. pic.twitter.com/FeXsk6nxmf
— InfoAtletismo (@InfoAtletismo) October 27, 2014
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Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi, though not the fastest in the field, is a fan favourite and known as the citizen runner in his home country because of how he balances professional running with a government job. He has already run five marathons in 2016.
RELATED: Kenenisa Bekele says Mo Farah can’t break his world records.
Though the Bekele versus Wilson Kipsang match-up was announced in July, the full list of athletes was only publicly confirmed by the IAAF on Thursday. As usual, the top runners are from East Africa including the top nine in the men’s field and six of the top seven in the women’s field based on lifetime bests.
RELATED: Confession: I never want to run a marathon.
Though there are three men who have faster times than Bekele, the all-time great is arguably the favourite. He’s the 5,000m and 10,000m world record holder.
The women’s field is not nearly as deep because many of the world’s best runners competed at the Rio Olympics. The race director noted that “the situation also offers the chance for another runner to make a name for herself.” The runner most familiar with Berlin is Kebede who has run the German race three times in her career including wins in 2010 and 2012.
The Berlin Marathon is the first of three major marathons this fall. Chicago is Oct. 9 and New York City is Nov. 6 as many of the world’s top distance runners get split among the three races.
Men’s field
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN) – 2:03:13
Wilson Kipsang (KEN) – 2:03:23
Tsegaye Mekonnen (ETH) – 2:04:32
Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) – 2:05:04
Vincent Kipruto (KEN) – 2:05:13
Eliud Kiptanui (KEN) – 2:05:21
Evans Chebet (KEN) – 2:05:33
Mark Kiptoo (KEN) – 2:06:00
Jacob Kendagor (KEN) – 2:07:47
Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) – 2:08:14
Women’s field
Aberu Kebede (ETH) – 2:20:30
Amane Beriso (ETH) – 2:20:48
Birhane Dibaba (ETH) – 2:22:30
Reina Iwade (JPN) – 2:24:38
Ruti Aga (ETH) – 2:25:27
Janet Ronoh (KEN) – 2:26:03
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