Kenenisa Bekele leads the entries for Sunday’s BMW Berlin Marathon at the start of an intense period of big city events over 42.195 kms.
When Kenenisa lines up for the BMW Berlin Marathon this weekend (Sept 26), it marks the beginning of an unprecedented period of marathon racing. Due to Covid-19 related postponements, five of the six Marathon Majors will be staged within a 42-day period. If you are a fan of the classic 42.195 kms distance, you are in for a feast.
Kenenisa is clearly excited by the prospect as he is racing in not just one but two of these races. After Berlin on Sunday, he will attempt to recover and re-boot before tackling the TCS New York City Marathon in early November.
Tokyo Marathon, which is also one of the Marathon Majors, was due to take place on October 17 too, but has been called off due to the pandemic. However, the TCS Amsterdam Marathon is still on October 17 – and this Dutch race often sees fast times – whereas the NN Rotterdam Marathon on October 24 is usually similarly swift.
Berlin comes first, though. Kenenisa has not raced since March last year and during this time, he has seen his world 5000m and 10,000m records fall to Joshua Cheptegei. Last October, he was due to race in London but withdrew on the eve of the race with a calf injury. He is now aged 39 but do not write him off. People thought he was a spent force in 2019 but he came within two seconds of the world record with 2:01:41 in Berlin.
“I will come back with good energy and motivation,” said Kenenisa. “The last race in Berlin motivated me a lot; so I hope I will fulfil my plan this year.”
Kenenisa will be among around 25,000 runners in Berlin as mass participation road running emerges from the pandemic. His opposition on Sunday includes Guye Adola, an Ethiopian who ran the world’s fastest ever debut marathon of 2:03:46 in Berlin four years ago, but has struggled to improve since.
There is also Eliud Kiptanui of Kenya, who has run 2:05:21, plus a further eight men who have run inside 2:07 such as Philemon Kacheran and Festus Talam of Kenya, Olika Adugna and Tadu Abate of Ethiopia, plus Hidekazu Hijikata of Japan.
Adugna won his debut marathon in Dubai in 2:06:15, while Hijikata took the Lake Biwa Marathon victory earlier this year.
The women’s race, meanwhile, includes Hiwot Gebrekidan, who won the Milan Marathon this year in 2:19:35, plus fellow Ethiopian, Shure Demise, together with Kenyans, Fancy Chemutai and Purity Rionoripo.
Just seven days after Berlin, the Virgin Money London Marathon takes place with the fields led by women’s world record-holder, Brigid Kosgei, together with fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei and Ethiopians Roza Dereje and Birhane Dibaba.
The men’s race in London features Ethiopians, Shura Kitata, Mosinet Geremew and Birhanu Legese, plus Kenyans, Titus Ekiru and Evans Chebet.
The Bank of American Chicago Marathon includes world champion, Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya in the women’s race alongside American hope, Sarah Hall, while another home nation hope, Galen Rupp, takes on Ethiopians, Getaneh Molla and Seifu Tura in the men’s race.
Boston sees former women’s winner Des Linden of the US facing Ethiopians Yebrgual Melese, Mare Dibaba and Workenesh Edesa plus Edna Kiplagat of Kenya.
The men’s field in Boston features Ethiopians Asefa Mengstu, Lemi Berhanu and Lelisa Desisa and Kenyans Benson Kipruto, Wilson Chebet and Filex Kiprotich.
Linden is tackling an audacious double too as she is planning to line up in New York as well. The women’s field in the Big Apple also features Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya and Ruti Aga of Ethiopia with plenty of home interest too such as Molly Seidel, Aliphine Tuliamuk, Sally Kipyego and Emily Sisson.
The men’s field in New York, meanwhile, is led by Kenenisa together with Olympic silver medalist Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands, whereas Britain’s Callum Hawkins is also in the entries.
(Athletics Weekly)
