Berlin
Can Tigst Assefa put the icing on the cake once more at the BMW Berlin Marathon? The Ethiopian long-distance star wants to get the world record back this Sunday (September 27).
Three years ago, she moved the women’s marathon into new dimensions when she clocked two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.
But in the meantime, the world record has been improved to 2:09:56.
While Tigst Assefa eyes the 2:10:00 barrier, Germany’s Esther Pfeiffer hopes to go sub 2:20:00 in an attempt to break the long-standing German record. It was back in 2008 when Irina Mikitenko won the Berlin Marathon with 2:19:19.
Meanwhile, There was bad luck for Ethiopia’s running legend Kenenisa Bekele. In one of his last training sessions before the planned journey to Berlin he injured his left Achilles tendon. The two-time Berlin winner has had to withdraw from the race.
Berlin has recorded 13 world records during the race’s history.
This is a record in itself because there is no other marathon race worldwide that comes close to such a number. Tigst Assefa now goes for Berlin’s world record number 14.
Winner Tgist Assefa, second-placed Hellen Obiri and third finisher Joyciline Jepkosgei all dipped under the two hours, 16 minutes mark. (Photo / TCS London Marathon)
Rosemary Wanjiru Will Not Follow Assefa’s Pace
However, at the press conference the 29-year-old held back a bit.
When the question about the world record came in English Tigst Assefa understood and smiled happily before she replied in Amharic with the help of the interpreter: “I am really looking forward to running on the fast course in Berlin again and hope that I can continue my success story here on Sunday. I am very well prepared and want to run a personal best.”
Her 2:11:53 PB is still the Berlin course record as well. With that time, she would have won the first eleven editions of the BMW Berlin Marathon in the 1970s and 1980s – that shows the tremendous development of the world’s leading female marathon runners.
In Berlin, Tigist Assefa will face the defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru.
However, the Kenyan will not be following Assefa’s world record pace. Her aim is to improve her PB of 2:16:14 to under 2:15:00.
From left to right: Alisa Vainio, Dera Dida, Tigst Assefa, Rosemary Wanjiru and Manon Trapp at the Siegessäule in Berlin on Thursday. (Photo / SCC EVENTS / Petko Beier)
The Ethiopians Bedatu Hirpa (PB: 2:18:27), Dera Dida (2:18:32) and Zeineba Yimer (2:18:47) are also aiming for such a time. Dida is the wife of Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola and a training partner of Tigst Assefa. “We know each other very well of course and I expect us to produce strong performances,” said Dera Dida.
Third Women’s Group
The third women’s group is expected to run sub 2:20:00 pace. Finnish European Champion Alisa Vainio (2:20:39), who is competing in Berlin despite the short interval since the continental championships in Birmingham on 16 August, will probably join this group.
“My aim is to improve my personal best and hopefully run under 2:20,“ said Alisa Vainio, who also competed at the Finnish Championships’ marathon in Jyväskylä just twelve days ago. She won this one as well with 2:27:47. But for me this was just like a training run and it felt fine.“
Germany’s Esther Pfeiffer is also aiming for a sub 2:20:00 time.
Germany's Esther and Hendrik Pfeiffer at the press conference in Berlin on Thursday. Esther Pfeiffer is also aiming for a sub 2:20:00 time. (Photo / SCC EVENTS / Victah Sailer)
“I plan to run a pace that will lead to the German record. This is my big goal and my chase begins on Sunday,” said the 29-year-old, who has only run one marathon so far: In 2023 she won the Cologne Marathon in 2:37:00 and took the German title in a race without any significant challengers.
Since then, Esther Pfeiffer has strongly improved her personal bests at shorter distances. She clocked 67:25 at the Generali Berlin Half Marathon in March and improved her 10km time to 30:45 after that. On Sunday her husband Hendrik Pfeiffer, who is among the leading German marathon runners, will pace her.
Berlin’s elite field has got very good depth once more. Seven runners on the start list have personal bests of sub 2:20:00. There have never been more than that in Berlin. And a record number of 13 women have entered with PBs of under 2:22:00.
Elite Women for the BMW Berlin Marathon:
Tigst Assefa (ETH) 2:11:53;
Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) 2:16:14;
Bedatu Hirpa (ETH) 2:18:27;
Dera Dida (ETH) 2:18:32;
Zeineba Yimer (ETH) 2:18:47;
Misgane Alemayehu (ETH) 2:19:08;
Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:19:39;
Evaline Chirchir (KEN) 2:20:33;
Alisa Vainio (FIN) 2:20:39;
Deshun Zhang (CHN) 2:20:53;
Eebbisee Addunya (ETH) 2:21:13;
Aminet Ahmed (ETH) 2:21:24;
Rika Kaseda (JPN) 2:21:55;
Mao Uesugi (JPN) 2:22:11;
Pascaline Jelagat (KEN ) 2:22:44;
Manon Trapp (FRA) 2:23:38;
Natsuki Omori (JPN) 2:23:45;
Fatima Gardadi (MAR) 2:24:06;
Laura Hottenrott (GER) 2:24:32;
Kristina Hendel (GER) 2:27:29;
Anna Langerwisch (GER) 2:32:13;
Thea Heim (GER) 2:33:25;
Esther Pfeiffer (GER) 2:37:00.
(BMW Berlin Marathon)
