Featuring an unprecedented depth in the women’s elite field the 51st edition of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will take place on Sunday morning in the German capital. While Rosemary Wanjiru of Kenya is the likely favourite and heads the women’s field with a PB of 2:16:14 there are seven athletes with personal bests of sub 2:20:00 – exactly the same number of women with such a PB competed in last Sunday’s World Championships’ marathon in Tokyo. Six of them have even run unter 2:19:00, which is unique for Berlin. Berlin’s super fast course might well see extraordinary times again despite a relatively warm weather forecast. The world leading time of 2:15:50 will be a target.
With over 55,000 entries from 160 nations the 51st BMW BERLIN-MARATHON will once again be among the world’s biggest marathons.
Rosemary Wanjiru knows the course of the BMW BERLIN MARATHON well. Three years ago she ran a strong marathon debut here, finishing second in 2:18:00. “If the weather is good and I feel fine in the morning, I intend to run a very fast time,“ said the 30-year-old Kenyan during the press conference with the elite female runners. With a personal best of 2:16:14, Rosemary Wanjiru is the fastest woman on the Berlin start list.
Dera Dida, who is the wife of Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola, ran a personal best in the BMW BERLIN MARATHON as well: In 2023 the Ethiopian finished sixth here with 2:19:24. She improved her PB this January in Dubai to 2:18:32. “I have been training intensively with Tamirat and want to run a personal best on Sunday. I am looking forward to the great atmosphere along the course and want to give something back to the spectators with a top performance,” said the 28-year-old, who is aiming to continue an unusual winning streak. Berlin’s women’s winners of the last three years are all from one training group in Addis Ababa to which Dera Dida belongs as well.
The Japanese record holder Honami Maeda is another athlete who has run below 2:19:00. She could continue the series of strong performances that Japanese athletes have shown in Berlin in the past. The highlight was Naoko Takahashi’s run in 2001, when she became the first woman to break the 2:20:00 barrier with a time of 2:19:46. Four years later, the 2004 Olympic champion, Mizuki Noguchi, won in Berlin with a time of 2:19:12. This Japanese record stood for 19 years. And it was Honami Maeda who broke the mark in Osaka in January 2024 with a time of 2:18:59. “Berlin is a restart for me because I was injured for a long time. I will run as fast as possible,“ said Honami Maeda, who will be running her first marathon since breaking the Japanese record.
Unfortunately Norwegian Karoline Grovdal had to pull out at short notice due to an illness. A German athlete could now be the fastest European in Berlin: Domenika Mayer was the most consistent German marathon runner in the past couple of years. The 34-year-old ran her personal best of 2:23:47 at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON two years ago. With this performance she qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games where she was the best German runner in 28th place. “I am looking forward to the great atmosphere in Berlin and want to try to run a personal best. I had some health problems during my preparation, but I got back on track just in time,“ said Domenika Mayer, who is the third fastest German marathon runner ever.
Fabienne Königstein, who has a 2:25:48 PB, is also expected to be strong. After suffering of injuries and illnesses for several years she came back promisingly this spring. “I really enjoy my running,“ said the 32-year-old after finishing fourth in the Vienna Marathon. “I am well prepared and want to run under 2:23:00 on Sunday.“
Deborah Schöneborn, who competes for Marathon Team Berlin, which is associated with the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, is the second fastest German on the start list with her PB of 2:24:54. However, she has suffered from recurring foot problems over the last year and a half. “I am glad that I can start the race in good health and I am looking forward to it,“ said the 31-year-old, who will be running her tenth marathon on Sunday.
Elite Women for the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON:
Rosemary Wanjiru KEN 2:16:14 2. Tokyo 24
Degitu Azimeraw ETH 2:17:58 2. London 21
Dera Dida ETH 2:18:32 2. Dubai 25
Mestawut Fikir ETH 2:18:48 2. Berlin 24
Tigist Girma ETH 2:18:52 7. Valencia 22
Honami Maeda JPN 2:18:59 2. Osaka 24
Sharon Chelimo KEN 2:19:33 1. Barcelona 25
Aberu Ayana ETH 2:20:20 4. Berlin 24
Azmera Gebru ETH 2:20:48 3. Amsterdam 19
Kidsan Alema ETH 2:22:28 6. Sevilla 22
Violah Cheptoo KEN 2:22:44 2. New York 21
Betty Chepkwony KEN 2:23:02 1. Rom 23
Domenika Mayer GER 2:23:47 14. Berlin 23
Deborah Schöneborn GER 2:24:54 4. Houston 24
Aberash Demisse ETH 2:25:43 10. Frankfurt 24
Fabienne Königstein GER 2:25:48 8. Hamburg 23
Aleksandra Lisowska POL 2:25:52 28. Valencia 23
Samantha Harrison GBR 2:25:59 11. London 23
Irvette Van Zyl RSA 2:26:11 16. Valencia 22
Hanne Verbruggen BEL 2:26:32 7. Sevilla 23
Melina Wolf GER 2:27:34 18. Berlin 24
Jill Holterman NED 2:28:18 6. Enschede 21
Samrawit Mengsteab SWE 2:28:44 9. Hamburg 25
Hanna Lindholm SWE 2:28:59 11. Sevilla 20
Katja Goldring USA 2:29:01 5. Sacramento 22
Ftaw Zeray ETH 2:29:15 1. Hefei 19
Lemlem Hailu ETH Debut
Fantu Worku ETH Debut
Girmawit Gebrzihair ETH Debut
Amy-Eloise Neale GBR Debut
More information is available online at: www.berlin-marathon.com
