News

Mizuki Noguchi won the 32nd real,- BERLIN-MARATHON with a new course-

and Asian record. The 27-year-old Japanese clocked 2:19:12 hours and broke

the course record of her countrywomen Yoko Shibui (2:19:41) by 29 seconds.

Fastest male runner was the Kenyan Philip Manyim in 2:07:41 hours. The

27-year-old won altogether 47,500 €, while Mizuki Noguchi earned

70.000 Euro.

A record number of 39.882 runners from 103 nations were running at the

32nd edition of the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON. The race established itself

as fourth biggest marathon in the world. Berlin is number one if you add

wheelchairs, handbikers and inline-skaters (48,170 athletes). On Sunday

there was also the real,- MINI-MARATHON with 9,312 participants. More

than one million people lined the course.

Mizuki Noguchi became the third best marathon runner of all times (behind

Radcliffe and Ndereba) and was running the sixth fastest time ever. Furthermore

it is the second best time of the year. With temporary good conditions,

but at to warm weather at the end, Luminita Zaituc (Germany) finished

second in 2:27:34 hours. Zaituc had to stop a few k before the finish,

due to cramps. Third place went to Asale Tafa (Ethiopia) in 2:28:27, while

Melanie Kraus (Germany) was fourth in 2:34:23.

While Japan’s women had the sixth victory in a row in Berlin, while

Kenya’s men got the seventh victory in a row in the most spectacular

road race in Germany. In doing so, the Kenyans reached the first five

places. Runner up was Peter Chebet in 2:08:58, and third place was taken

by Jackson Koech (2:09:07).

In the wheelchair race Heinz Frei produced a great victory. The Suisse

won in 1:28:32 and was celebrating a unique jubilee in the wheelchair

sport: It was his 100th marathon victory in his career. Since 1985 he

won in Berlin already 16 times out of 19 participations. Fastest women

was Edith Hunkeler (Schuisse) in 1:49:46. In the handbiker race Wim Decleir

winners were (Belgium/1:13:32) and Andrea Eskau (Germany/1:15:50).