News Archive

News Archive

Showdown of top athletes at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON on September 27

 

Once again, the fastest marathon course in the world has drawn the crème de la crème of endurance runners to the start. The most successful marathon runner in the last twelve months will face the second- and third-fastest marathon runners of all times at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON on September 27.

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, who won the London Marathon in the spring of 2015 and the Chicago Marathon in October 2014, hopes to demonstrate that he is the best marathon runner in the world on September 27 in Berlin. However, he will be facing strong competition at the 42nd edition of the BMW BERLIN MARATHON. First, there is Emmanuel Mutai, who is the third-fastest marathon runner of all times, who last year at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON finished just behind the winner, Dennis Kimetto, who set a new world record in 2:02:57. Mutai, who did quite a bit of the pace work for this world record, finished in 2:03:13 hrs. The third in this top trio is Geoffrey Mutai (not related), who four years ago ran the classic distance of 42.195 km faster than anyone before him at his victory at the traditional Boston Marathon with a time of 2:03:02. Boston Marathon times, however, are not eligible for records or best times, as the total gradient of the course is too great (plus start/finish lines too far apart).

All three athletes have this in common: They all have experience with the Berlin course and all have stood on the winners’ podium. Kipchoge was second with his personal best time of 2:04:05 in 2013, behind his fellow countryman, Wilson Kipsang, who set a world record (2:03:23). Last year, Emmanuel Mutai finished second, and Geoffrey Mutai had a spot on the podium twice: in 2010 behind Patrick Makau (2:05:10) after a race in the pouring rain, and in 2012 as the winner with a time of 2:04:15.

A short clip on these three runners you can find here.



Brief portraits of the top three runners:

Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya, b. 5 November 1984
Best Time: 2:04:05 (Berlin 2013)

 

2003

 
 

Junior World Champion in Cross Country

 
 

 

 
 

WCh 1st 5.000 m

 
 

2004

 
 

OlyGames 3rd 5.000 m

 
 

2007

 
 

WCh 2nd 5.000 m

 
 

2008

 
 

OlyGames 2nd 5.000 m

 
 

2010

 
 

CG 2nd 5.000 m

 
 

2013

 
 

1st Hamburg-Marathon

 
 

 

 
 

2nd BMW BERLIN MARATHON

 
 

2014

 
 

1st Rotterdam Marathon

 
 

 

 
 

1st Bank of America Chicago Marathon

 
 

2015

 
 

1st Virgin Money London Marathon

 

 

Emmanuel Mutai, Kenia, b. 12 October 1984
Best time 2:03:13 (Berlin 2014)

 

Marathon

 
 

2007

 
 

1st Amsterdam

 
 

2009

 
 

2nd WM

 
 

2010

 
 

2nd London

 
 

 

 
 

2nd New York

 
 

2011

 
 

1st London

 
 

 

 
 

2nd New York

 
 

2013

 
 

2nd London

 
 

 

 
 

2nd Chicago

 
 

2014

 
 

2nd Berlin

 

 

Geoffrey Mutai, Kenia, b. 7 October 1981
Best time: 2:03:02 (Boston 2011)

 

Marathon

 
 

2010

 
 

2nd Rotterdam

 
 

 

 
 

2nd Berlin

 
 

2011

 
 

1st Boston

 
 

 

 
 

1st New York

 
 

2012

 
 

1st Berlin

 
 

2013

 
 

1st New York

 

 

WCh: World Athletics Championships
OlyGames: Olympic Games
CG: Commonwealth Games