An open and tight men’s race is expected at the Berlin Marathon set for Sunday,7 September, following the withdrawal of injured world record holder Sabastian Sawe who will be in Berlin as a guest of honour.That leaves atleast half a dozen of athletes looking capable of winning Germany’s most spectacular road race.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsWithout Sawe there will obviously be no attempt to break the two hour barrier, however, a very fast race is still likely. The course record of Eliud Kipchoge is a target.The former World Record holder won the race in 2022 with a 2:01:09 world mark. Five athletes on the start list have strong personal bests of under 2:05:00.“I expect a thrilling race and we have hopes for a course record. The pace for the first group will be towards 2:01,“ said race director Mark Milde. Once again the depth of Berlin’s elite field is very strong as well. A total of 26 runners have already clocked times of under 2:08:00, a time that was still considered world-class some 25 years ago and was only beaten for the first time in Berlin in 1995.Agnes Jebet sets sights on elusive medal after stellar 2026 seasonThe fastest runner on the start list is now Gabriel Geay. With a time of 2:03:00 he holds the Tanzanian national record and ranks 17th on the list of the fastest runners of all time.“I am glad that I have a second chance to run in Berlin," said the 29-year-old, who like a number of other athletes had to withdraw from the race a year ago due to the high temperatures. “I am in good shape and hope to run a very good time.”A group of Ethiopian runners are among the favourites. Guye Adola is an athlete who set his outstanding personal best (PB) in Berlin and has also won the race before. In 2017 Adola finished second behind Kenya’s superstar Kipchoge. On that occasion he ran an unofficial world debut record of 2:03:46 which remains his PB.##NAJAVA_MECA_9984752##In 2021 Adola was Berlin’s winner. Among others he left Ethiopian superstar Kenenisa Bekele, who will not be able to run in Berlin on Sunday due to an injury, behind him.“I am very well prepared and in the best shape of my life,” said 35 year-old Adola, who won the Rotterdam Marathon this spring and came close to his PB with 2:03:54.Among his training partners in Addis Ababa is Yomif Kejelcha, who caused a sensation in London when he was runner-up in 1:59:41 and who recently broke the half-marathon world record. “During our training runs, I was only a little behind Yomif,” said Adola.Omanyala on significance of Kenya hosting the 2029 World ChampionshipsSelemon Barega could produce a big PB in Berlin. The 10000m Olympic Champion from Tokyo 2021 will run his third marathon on Sunday. So far his PB stands at 2:05:00. “I’ve trained well and want to improve further in Berlin,” said the 26 year-old.Two of his Ethiopian compatriots are also among the favourites: Getaneh Molla and Shura Kitata have impressive personal bests of 2:03:34 and 2:03:59 respectively.No fewer than eleven Japanese runners with personal records ranging from around 2:06 to 2:08 feature on the final start list. It is expected that some of the group will attempt to challenge the Japanese record of 2:04:55.Kipchumba eyeing own course record as he returns to Amsterdam MarathonElite MenGabriel Geay TAN 2:03:00Getaneh Molla ETH 2:03:34Guye Adola ETH 2:03:46Shura Kitata ETH 2:03:59Erick Sang KEN 2:04:30Selemon Barega ETH 2:05:00Taresa Tolosa ETH 2:05:17Tadu Abate ETH 2:05:38Asefa Boki ETH 2:05:40Kenya Sonota JPN 2:05:59Tsubasa Ichiyama JPN 2:06:00Kiyoto Hirabayashi JPN 2:06:14Yuhei Urano JPN 2:06:23Hidekazu Hijikata JPN 2:06:26Naoki Koyama JPN 2:06:33Andamlak Belihu ETH 2:06:40Kazuya Nishiyama JPN 2:06:45Gemechu Dida ETH 2:06:45Abel Kipchumba KEN 2:06:49Daisuke Uekado JPN 2:06:54Jie He CHN 2:06:57Sebastian Hendel GER 2:07:33Haftom Welday GER 2:08:13Aaron Bienenfeld GER 2:08:47Details of President Ruto, FIFA boss Infantino meeting emerge
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