FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gladys Cherono and Aberu Kebede target 2:20 barrier
while Anna Hahner sets sights on personal best and Olympic qualifying time
Berlin, September 24 -- Talk about the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON has so often
been about records, with speculation about who can make their mark on
history by breaking the world record, but this Sunday's race put the
emphasis on competition as Thursday's press conference for the elite women
confirmed. Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia, twice a winner on this renowned fast
course, will line up in search of a hat-trick while Kenya's Gladys Cherono
takes aim not only at victory but breaking the 2:20 barrier in only her
second race at the distance, having made an outstanding debut with 2:20:03
for second place in Dubai in January. The quality of the field suggests
that intense competition will put the world best this year of 2:19:52 of
Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba under pressure, rather than a calculated attack on
the clock. What is guaranteed is that the 42nd edition of the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON, the latest in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will again
be Germany's biggest marathon with 41,224 on the start line. Many will be
hoping that Anna Hahner, seventh last year in a personal best of 2:26:44,
will achieve the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:28:30 for Rio in 2016.
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON is an IAAF Gold Label event, the highest category
of road race.
"This is my first time in Berlin and I'm so looking forward to the race,"
explained Gladys Cherono. The 32-year-old was prevented by injury last year
from making her debut at the distance in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON. The
manner of her performance in Dubai when she finished runner-up and with the
third fastest female debut of all time suggests that Cherono, a 2013 World
Championship bronze medallist at 10,000m, has potential to make headlines
in the marathon.
"The other runners have more experience of the marathon but I've been
learning," reflected Gladys Cherono. She admits that her preparation has
been excellent, highlighted by a personal best at half marathon of 66:38 to
win in Istanbul on April 26. Perhaps even more impressive was that she left
Helah Kiprop, silver medallist at the World Championship marathon in
Beijing last month, almost two minutes behind. Responding to whether
victory was more important than a fast time, Cherono's reply was practical
and to the point: "If you run fast, the chances are you'll win as well!"
If a comparison proves useful, the last time a woman broke 2:20 in Berlin
was four years ago when fellow Kenyan Florence Kiplagat ran 2:19:44. This
was also the second marathon her career, as it will be for Gladys Cherono
on Sunday.
The competitive fires of Aberu Kebede burn just as brightly. The Ethiopian
has already won the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON title twice, in 2010 and 2012,
setting what remains her personal best of 2:20:30 on the latter occasion.
"If I could win for a third time, it would be a crowning moment in my
career – and also a record," said the 26-year-old. Achieving the hat-trick
on Sunday would rank her alongside Germany's Uta Pippig, the 1990 winner of
the first Berlin marathon through what had hitherto been a divided city,
and Poland's Renata Kokowska. "I want to break 2:20 once and for all," said
Aberu Kebede. She won't be the only Ethiopian vying for a place on the
podium with Meseret Hailu (2:21:09) and Tadelech Bekele (2:22:51) likely to
have a say in the outcome.
The leading German women's hope is Anna Hahner, who has been comparing
notes with Uta Pippig on the atmosphere for the Berlin race. Hahner will
pursue the Olympic qualifying standard of 2:28:30, having given the Rio
course a trial run last month when she cruised round in 2:39:15. Hahner ran
her personal best of 2:26:44 for seventh place here last year. She returned
from Brazil and her comment hardly needs translation: "Rio rockt!"
She was barely one year old when Uta Pippig made history in running through
the Brandenburg Gate in 1990 but both share a joyful attitude to running
and competition. Pippig, winner of Berlin, Boston and New York marathons,
believes this will stand Anna Hahner in good stead: "She has such positive
energy and that is very important in the marathon." Advice which every one
of the 41,224 participants can take their hearts when Uta shares the
starting gun duties with Berlin's Mayor Michael Müller and Peter van
Binsbergen of BMW at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning.
Leading Women Contenders in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:
Gladys Cherono KEN 2:20:03
Aberu Kebede ETH 2:20:30
Meseret Hailu ETH 2:21:09
Tadelech Bekele ETH 2:22:51
Fate Tola ETH 2:25:14
Eri Hayakawa JPN 2:25:31
Lisa Nemec CRO 2:25:44
Tomomi Tanaka JPN 2:26:05
Anna Hahner GER 2:26:44
Deborah Toniolo ITA 2:28:31
Maja Neuenschwander SUI 2:29:42
More information is available online at: www.berlin-marathon.com
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