Berlin Half Marathon

The Berlin Half Marathon is a major endurance event held annually in early spring in Berlin, Germany. Besides the runner's main race, the event includes a race for inline skaters, wheelchair athletes and handbikers. All athletes use the same course, which has the official half marathon distance of 21.0975 km.

Berlin Half Marathon
DateApril
LocationBerlin, Germany
Event typeRoad
DistanceHalf marathon
Primary sponsorGenerali
Established1984
Course recordsMen's: 58:42 (2018)
Eric Kiptanui
Women's: 1:05:45 (2019)
Sifan Hassan
Official siteBerlin Half Marathon
Participants28,729 (2019)
Berlin Half Marathon 2015: Esther Hidalgo (5th), Dennis Klusmann (93rd)
Leading inline skaters in 2012

The half marathon and the Berlin Marathon are hosted by the club SCC Berlin and organized by SCC EVENTS.[1] The half marathon is categorized as a Bronze Label Road Race by World Athletics.[2]

History

The story of the Berlin half marathon reflects a major part of the history of the German capital. Its predecessors came from East and West Berlin. The race, as it exists today, arose in 1990 from the Berliner Friedenslauf (Berlin Peace Run) which took place in East Berlin since 1982 and the SCC Half Marathon in the western part of the city.

The Berliner Friedenslauf covered various distances, among others a 20-kilometre race and a marathon. The event was established by the government of the GDR and served not only as a sporting event but also as an important propaganda tool. The SCC Half Marathon on the other side had local character and was designed to be the final test in preparation for the Berlin marathon, which took place four weeks later.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the ensuing collapse of the GDR, the support for the Berliner Friedenslauf also diminished. So the former organizer Stefan Senkel quickly had to find a new partner to save the race. SCC-RUNNING, the organizer of the Berlin marathon, joined. Both parties agreed on one distance: a half marathon. Thus, there is only one major half marathon in Berlin since 1990.[3]

Over the years the Berlin half marathon increased in size and popularity. Today it is by far the biggest half marathon race in Germany, with a record 36,000 participants in 2018.[4]

The 40th anniversary of the Generali Berlin half marathon, which was planned to be held on April 5, 2020, was announced cancelled on the 12th march. The decision came from the Berlin authorities as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak.[5]

Course records

Running

Inline Skating
  • Men: 0:30:35, Gary Hekman ( Netherlands), 2016
  • Women: 0:36:22, Jana Gegner ( Germany), 2005

Wheelchair
  • Men: 0:55:54, Tomasz Hamerlak ( Poland), 1997
  • Women: 0:56:54, Yvonne Sehmisch ( Germany), 2007

Handbike
  • Men: 0:32:47, Olaf Heine ( Germany), 2016
  • Women: 0:38:40, Christiane Reppe ( Germany), 2014

Past winners
Patrick Makau Musyoki on the way to victory at the 2008 race

Half Marathon
Year Men's winner Time Women's winner Time
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[5]
2019  William Wanjiku (KEN) 1:01:00  Sifan Hassan (NED) 1:05:45
2018  Eric Kiptanui (KEN) 0:58:42  Melat Kejeta (ETH) 1:09:04
2017  Gilbert Masai (KEN) 0:59:57  Joan Chelimo (KEN) 1:08:45
2016  Richard Mengich (KEN) 0:59:58  Elizeba Cherono (NED) 1:10:43
2015  Birhanu Legese (ETH) 0:59:45  Cynthia Kosgei (KEN) 1:10:52
2014  Leonard Komon (KEN) 0:59:14  Tadelech Bekele (ETH) 1:10:05
2013  Jacob Kendagor (KEN) 0:59:36  Helah Kiprop (KEN) 1:07:54
2012  Dennis Kipruto (KEN) 0:59:14  Philes Ongori (KEN) 1:08:25
2011  Geoffrey Kipsang (KEN) 1:00:38  Valentine Kipketer (KEN) 1:10:12
2010  Eshetu Wondimu (ETH) 1:00:16  Paskalia Kipkoech (KEN) 1:09:43
2009  Bernard Kipyego (KEN) 0:59:34  Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) 1:08:45
2008  Patrick Makau (KEN) 1:00:00  Peninah Arusei (KEN) 1:08:22
2007  Patrick Makau (KEN) 0:58:56  Benita Johnson (AUS) 1:08:28
2006  Paul Kosgei (KEN) 0:59:07  Edith Masai (KEN) 1:07:16
2005  Paul Kimugul (KEN) 1:01:04  Luminita Zaituc (GER) 1:11:04
2004  Paul Kirui (KEN) 1:00:40  Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 1:09:49
2003  Paul Kirui (KEN) 1:01:05  Magdaline Chemjor (KEN) 1:11:12
2002  Peter Chebet (KEN) 1:01:19  Rose Cheruiyot (KEN) 1:09:32
2001  Fabián Roncero (ESP) 0:59:52  Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 1:09:37
2000  Joseph Mereng (KEN) 1:01:52  Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 1:08:22
1999  Benson Lokorwa (KEN) 1:03:25  Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) 1:10:26
1998  Andrew Eyapan (KEN) 1:03:59  Marleen Renders (BEL) 1:10:04
1997  Tendai Chimusasa (ZIM) 1:03:42  Marleen Renders (BEL) 1:10:37
1996  Charles Tangus (KEN) 1:02:50  Ursula Jeitziner (SUI) 1:11:19
1995  Philip Chirchir (KEN) 1:01:37  Sonja Krolik (GER) 1:11:42
1994  Tendai Chimusasa (ZIM) 1:01:45  Kathrin Weßel (GER) 1:10:47
1993  Carsten Eich (GER) 1:00:34  Päivi Tikkanen (FIN) 1:12:30
1992  Stephan Freigang (GER) 1:01:14  Maria Starovska (CZE) 1:12:08
1991  Rustam Shagiev (RUS) 1:06:14  Madina Biktagirova (RUS) 1:11:34
1990  Stephan Freigang (GER) 1:02:25  Birgit Stephan (GER) 1:14:20
1989  Andrzej Nowak (POL) 1:06:57  Silvia Wilhelm (GER) 1:21:29
1988  Ingo Sensburg (GER) 1:10:45  Kerstin Preßler (GER) 1:13:05
1987  Ingo Sensburg (GER) 1:09:43  Silvia Wilhelm (GER) 1:17:19
1986  Ingo Sensburg (GER) 1:06:33  Andrea Knapp (GER) 1:19:49
1985  Ingo Sensburg (GER) 1:07:39  Kerstin Preßler (GER) 1:15:44
1984  Bernie Dowson (GBR) 1:06:51  Angelika Brandt (GER) 1:22:45

Berlin Peace Run (20 kilometer)
Year Men's winner Time Women's winner Time
1989  Milan Krajč (TCH) 1:03:10  Galina Ikonnikowa (URS) 1:09:12
1988  Roland Günther (GDR) 1:00:23  Annette Fincke (GDR) 1:10:03
1987  Jörg Peter (GDR) 1:00:10  Rosemarie Kössler (GDR) 1:16:01
1986  Jan Marchewka (POL) 1:02:57  Jeannette Hain (GDR) 1:11:09
1985  Michael Heilmann (GDR) 1:00:54  Galina Ikonnikowa (URS) 1:10:56
1984  Roland Günther (GDR) 1:00:51  Galina Ikonnikowa (URS) 1:08:36
1983  Michael Heilmann (GDR) 1:03:03  Julia Riethmüller (GDR) 1:17:11
1982  Hartmut Tronnier (GDR) 1:03:13  Julia Riethmüller (GDR) 1:15:46

Inline Skating
Year Men's winner Time Women's winner Time
2016  Gary Hekman (NED) 30:35  Sandrine Tas (BEL) 36:49
2015  Felix Rijhnen (GER) 36:39  Sabine Berg (GER) 41:33
2014  Felix Rijhnen (GER) 31:34  Katharina Rumpus (GER) 36:46
2013  Julien Levrard (FRA) 32:07  Katharina Rumpus (GER) 38:47
2012  Bart Swings (BEL) 30:41  Cecilia Banea (COL) 39:29
2011  Yann Guyader (FRA) 30:44  Mareike Thum (GER) 37:25
2010  Severin Widmer (SUI) 35:10  Cecilia Banea (COL) 43:31
2009  Alexis Contin (FRA) 31:48  Cecilia Banea (COL) 38:28
2008  Scott Arlidge (NZL) 34:11  Hilde Goovaerts (BEL) 38:16
2007  Niclas Kleyling (GER) 32:08  Jana Gegner (GER) 40:02
2006  Victor Wilking (GER) 33:04  Jana Gegner (GER) 39:58
2005  Sutton Atkins (GBR) 34:04  Jana Gegner (GER) 36:22
2004  Jörg Wecke (GER) 35:37  Britta Vantournhout (BEL) 40:21
2003  Kalon Dobbin (NZL) 37:21  Silvia Niño (COL) 44:41
2002  Kalon Dobbin (NZL) 35:37  Silvia Niño (COL) 35:47
2001  Steven Madsen (DEN) 34:36  Stephanie Pipke (GER) 38:35
2000  Steven Madsen (DEN) 36:28  Severin Stölzer (GER) 37:04
1999  Kalon Dobbin (NZL) 37:55  Daniela Dietzold (GER) 46:40
1997  Sebastian Baumgartner (GER) 44:55  Tina Pechardscheck (GER) 51:14

References
  1. Wenig, Jorg (2010-03-28). Wondimu ends Kenyan streak, Kipkoech takes women’s race in Berlin - UPDATED. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-29.
  2. https://www.worldathletics.org/competition/calendar/marathon-and-road-races
  3. History of the Berlin Half Marathon
  4. 2018 Berlin Half Marathon news
List of winners
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