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* Over 35,000 participants from 131 nations
* A sign of peace and international understanding
* Course records in sight
* Partnership with Johanniter Berlin/Brandenburg extended
* Sustainable impulses with Stadtmission and WWF
With 34,458 runners, 1,039 inline skaters, 11 hand cyclists and 7 wheelchair athletes, the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON and thus the largest German half marathon will start on Sunday. "We are looking forward to participants from 131 nations, who will set a great example for a peaceful and international cooperation", emphasizes Jürgen Lock in his function as CEO of SCC EVENTS.
Top and amateur athletes at the start
The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON focuses equally on top-class and popular sports. "It is a crucial concern for us to motivate people to exercise more and thus to adopt a sustainable lifestyle," says Lock. Sustainability is also the focus of the organizers of SCC EVENTS in the planning and implementation of the events. Here, the cooperation with WWF plays an important role. Together, a new reusable cup will be tested during the race this year. Martina von Münchhausen (WWF) explained in advance: "Major sporting events bring people together, create great emotions and impressive performances. At the same time, a lot of commitment is needed to reduce the ecological footprint along the route. We are therefore very excited to see how the trial use of reusable cups at one of the supply points at this year's event will prove itself and how we will come closer to our common goal of making sporting events more sustainable and avoiding single-use plastic."
Commitment with Berliner Stadtmission
Together with the Berlin City Mission, SCC EVENTS is also setting impulses for sustainable, social coexistence and is asking participants to donate well-kept, no longer needed sports shoes at the EXPO of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON at the GREEN LINE booth as well as clothing items in the starting blocks before the race. City Mission Director Dr. Christian Ceconi clarified in the run-up to the event: "We at the Berlin City Mission take care of homeless and homeless people who are at home on the streets of the capital. Every day, more than 130 needy people come to our clothing store to dress themselves free of charge with jogging pants, hoodies, hoodies and running shoes. That's why we are constantly in need of supplies. After we were allowed to collect clothing in the starting area for the first time in 2022, it was a blessing for the needy of this city: because even days later, they were able to pick up wonderful clothes from this joint campaign at the Berliner Stadtmission. We thank the SCC for their support and look forward to the great donations from the participants in this year's GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON."
Partnership with Johanniter Berlin/Brandenburg extended
For many years, Johanniter Berlin/Brandenburg have been responsible for providing medical assistance to participants during the race - at today's press conference, the contracts were signed for another four years. "We are pleased about the renewed cooperation with SCC EVENTS. Since 2005, we have been allowed to professionally accompany running events. Over the years, there have been more and more. In the process, we have shown that we are always a reliable partner, even when it comes to providing medical services for major events such as the Berlin Marathon," explained Götz-Georg von Randow, member of the regional board of Johanniter Berlin/Brandenburg.
Elite race preview of the 42nd GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON
A very strong elite field will compete at Sunday’s 42nd GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. If temperatures are not too cold and it does not get too windy both course records of 58:42 and 65:02 could be threatened.
Very strong men's field reaches for the course record
Four men - more than ever before - feature personal bests of sub one hour. Sabastian Sawe heads the start list with a time of 58:02. Fellow-Kenyan Philemon Kiplimo has already run sub one hour times on seven occasions. He has a PB of 58:11. Defending champion Alex Kibet returns to the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. Despite very cold conditions a year ago he ran a superb PB of 58:55. “Although I had to run alone for a large part of the race I just missed the course record by some seconds last year. This time we have a stronger field and we want to break the course record,“ said Alex Kibet. The strongest challenges for the Kenyans will most likely come from Dominic Lobalu. He comes from South Sudan and currently lives in Switzerland where he competes for the Refugee Team of title sponsor Generali. Lobalu has a personal best of 59:12.
Vice world champion with renowned competition
The women’s race will probably see a duel between Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama, the silver medallist from the 2023 World Cross Country Championships, and Great Britain’s long distance star Eilish McColgan. While 22 year-old Gebreselama is the fastest on the start list with a PB of 65:46 McColgan, who is ten years older, is the British record holder with 66:26. Preparing for her marathon debut in London in April the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON will be an important test for Eilish McColgan. A Kenyan runner could also be in the mix for victory on Sunday: Ludwina Chepngetich has a fine PB of 67:30.
Marathon Team Berlin on home roads
Johannes Motschmann and Deborah Schöneborn, who are both competing for the Marathon Team Berlin of race organiser SCC Berlin, are the fastest German athletes in the field with personal bests of 61:45 and 69:41 respectively. Meanwhile the 2016 Olympic marathon runner Philipp Pflieger, who also competes for Marathon Team Berlin, will run the final race of his career on Sunday. But the 35 year-old is no longer in the shape to beat his personal best of 62:50.
Women`s elite:
Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 1:05:46
Eilish McColgan (GBR) 1:06:26
Ludwina Chepngetich (KEN) 1:07:30
Samantha Harrison (GBR) 1:08:12
Yalemget Yaregal (ETH) 1:08:58
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Men Elite:
Alex Kibet (KEN) 58:55
Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 58:02
Philemon Kiplimo (KEN) 58:11
Dominic Lobalu (SSD) 59:12
Zerei Mezngi (NOR) 1:00:01
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Press conference on race day: April 02, 2023
The post-race press conference will also be held in the Media Center at Hotel TITANIC CHAUSSEE BERLIN (Chausseestr. 30, 10115 Berlin) Munich Room.
Start:
approx. 12:15 Inline Skating
approx. 12:30 Runners:inside
The press conference can be followed as a live stream on the SCC EVENTS Youtube channel.
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