Berlin Marathon elite field announced

what about the woman? thankyou

douglas burke wrote:

what about the woman? thankyou

So far only Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER, 2:26:22 PB) has been announced. I don't think any A-list women will be invited because the organizers want Mockenhaupt to win.

Wanjiru please go back to Berlin and help your country-men smash the World Record

No Geb this year? Wonder why.

running addict wrote:

No Geb this year? Wonder why.

He's running New York.

Where on earth have you been.

Like I said, plenty of big fish left.

Interesting that they have the all-time top 2 junior marathoners, Kiptanui and Worku.

Clearly these guys are going for time. They aren't trying to fake being fast like the guys in New York are, nor are they trying to pretend to be fast by breaking the Chicago records that won't mean much. The Berlin marathon was in danger of getting some crappy leftovers (can't believe they waited so long to announce), so I'm pretty happy they came up with this fast group.

I'm disappointed in the lack of a women's field.

I know that the WMMajors is just an advertising creation by the 5 race directors to drum up more interest/publicity in their races, but if Berlin isn't going to have a women's race then they aren't going to contribute much to making the WMM's "superior" appearance.

I get it that they paid Geb a lot of money to show up and break the world record on their course, but aside from that I haven't been very impressed with their elite fields or overall race itself. Boston, Chicago, London and New York have either better elite fields (both men and women) or more competitive races.

Women's elite field:

Bezunesh Bekele (ETH) 2:23:17

Aberu Kebede (ETH) 2:24:26

Tomo Morimoto (JPN) 2:24:33

Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) 2:26:22

Genet Getaneh (ETH) 2:26:37

that guy from Germany wrote:

Women's elite field:

Bezunesh Bekele (ETH) 2:23:17

Aberu Kebede (ETH) 2:24:26

Tomo Morimoto (JPN) 2:24:33

Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) 2:26:22

Genet Getaneh (ETH) 2:26:37

thank you very much

GO BEZUNESH

Mary Keitany should run Berlin. She will love Berlin. The field is weak.

There's only 5 elite runners. NO one wants to run berlin but Berlin is the fastest course. Is there any more elite runners signing up.

Kevincylo2 wrote:

There's only 5 elite runners. NO one wants to run berlin but Berlin is the fastest course. Is there any more elite runners signing up.

I've seen the complete elite field list. There are 13 guys with times under 2:10, 7 women under 2:30 and several good first-timers, along with similar numbers of 2:10-2:15 men and 2:30-2:35 women. I don't think you're going to be disappointed.

Found out some more:

MEN

Patrick Makau (KEN) 2:04:48

Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) 2:04:55

Sammy Korir (KEN) 2:04:56

Eliud Kiptanui (KEN) 2:05:39

Bazu Worku (ETH) 2:06:15

Gilbert Yegon (KEN) 2:06:18

Yemane Tsegay (ETH) 2:06:30

Eshetu Wondimu (ETH) 2:06:46

Bernard Kipyego (KEN) 2:07:01

Masakazu Fujiwara (JPN) 2:08:12

Dereje Tesfaye (ETH) 2:08:36

Mariko Kipchumba (KEN) 2:09:03

Dereje Debele (ETH) 2:09:08

William Kipchumba (KEN) 2:09:41

Mikhail Lemaev (RUS) 2:10:41

David Kiprono Langat 2:10:46

Birbo Guta (ETH) 2:10:51

Grigoriy Andreev (RUS) 2:11:01

Sergey Rybin (RUS) 2:11:48

Alemayehu Ameta Belachew (ETH) 2:13:25

Maswai Kiptanui (KEN) 2:13:25

Akinori Shibutani (JPN) 2:13:51

Martin Muriithi (KEN) 2:16:44 (at altitude)

Alexander Tidony (KEN) debut; 1:01:13 half marathon

Bernard Chepkok (KEN) debut; 1:01:28 half marathon

Eliud Kiplagat (KEN) debut; 1:01:29 half marathon

WOMEN

Bezunesh Bekele (ETH) 2:23:09

Aberu Kebede (ETH) 2:24:26

Tomo Morimoto (JPN) 2:24:33

Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) 2:26:22

Genet Getaneh (ETH) 2:26:37

Adriana Pirtea (ROM) 2:28:52

Leah Malot (KEN) 2:29:17

Irene Mogaka (KEN) 2:30:10

Olena Burkovska (UKR) 2:30:50

Ivana Iozza (ITA) 2:34:32

Daniela Cirlan (ROM) 2:36:18

Kevincylo2 wrote:

Mary Keitany should run Berlin. She will love Berlin. The field is weak.

There would appear to be 2 main reasons for an elite to run Berlin.

1. You are one of the best and at the top of your game. You have run several marathons and are ready to run your lifetime PB and break a National, Area or World record.

2. You are a less recognised runner and an improved PB and/or win at Berlin will help you get appearance money at top paying events like London and New York.

Keitany doesn't need to run Berlin for the second reason. She might run there for records in a year or two.

Don't discount Berlin based on the weak women's field. All women fields these days are weak if you compare it with the world record. This years best is almost 7min outside of Paulas WR. That's like if no man ran under 2:10 this year.

Good to see Sammy K is still rockin' and rollin'. I hope he drops another good one after yet another dry spell.