News

Last years record number of participants - 8,137 runners from 48 countries -

seems to have been a breakthrough towards even more success in the future. Up

until now 4,286 runners have registered to start this year (last year on the

same date: 1,397 registrations had been received) - the magic number of 10,000

participants now seems attainable. The BERLIN HALFMARATHON is by far the

largest and fastest half marathon in Germany.

Marathon Fair in the Kongresshalle at Alexanderplatz: From Friday (new),

30th March - Sunday, 1st April 2001.

Medal (new): All participants will receive a medal as well as their T-shirt

at the finish. The motif on the medal is the Berliner Dom (Berlin

Cathedral).

Massage (new): As in the BERLIN-MARATHON, all runners can now also have a

massage at the finish.

Organisation fee DM 40,- until 1st March 2001, after this date DM 50,-- Late

registrations possible until 31st March, registration no longer possible on the

day of the race, 1st April.

21st BERLIN HALFMARATHON runners are chasing new record

In 1993 Carsten Eich proved that the BERLIN HALFMARATHON track is

particularly fast, winning in a European record time of 1:00:34 hours. No-one

has been below this 61 minute threshold in Berlin since then. But the record

might well fall in 2001, as the field is expected to be high-class. Several

excellent runners have already registered this early for Berlin.

Tendai Chimusasa (ZIM), winner of the BERLIN HALFMARATHON in 1994 and 1997,

and winner of the Berlin 25km run in 1995 in the world record time of 1:14:25,

returned to world class at the Sydney Olympic Games after several uneventful

years, achieving 8th place. He dominated the street running scene in Germany

over short distances for many years, and has now moved on to marathon. His best

time for the halfmarathon is 1:00:26, which he ran in the Route du Vin

Halfmarathon in Luxemburg in 1995.

The fastest European last year was the Slovak Robert Stefko. In the

Malmö Bridge Halfmarathon he ran a time of 1:00:25. He was also successful

in winning last Mays 25km run in Berlin. Stefko is a good track runner who has

now turned to marathon. Due to injuries he did not achieve his goals at the

Olympic Games.

Fabian Roncero (ESP) was also not able to achieve his high ambitions at last

years BERLIN-MARATHON. Although considered one of the favourites and in great

form, he was forced to give up at KM 30 due to cramp. His best time at the

moment is 1:01:12.

Following a fantastic season in 2000, at the end of which he led the list of

best runners in Germany over 3,000 m, 5,000 m and 10,000 m, Jirka Arndt (SCC

Berlin) has now taken the step from track to the road. Arndt, who was 8th at

the Olympic Games over 5,000 m, is now concentrating on longer distances where

he hopes to achieve more success in the long run. The field of early

registrations is completed by John Mutai from Kenya whose best time lies at

1:00:52.

The womens field is currently still dominated by German runners. The local

matador and winner of the BERLIN HALFMARATHON in 1994 Kathrin Weßel (SCC

Berlin) has registered for a long distance race for the first time again since

she had her baby. The German record holder over 10,000 m is in excellent form

and hopes to better her time of 1:10:47. Her strongest competitor at the moment

is Iris Biba who holds a marathon best time of 2:29:08 and hopes to regain her

former good performance.