Addis Ababa, September 23, 2023 (FBC) – Ethiopian marathonist Tigst Assefa returns to defend her BMW Berlin Marathon title, as she goes head-to-head with other world calss runners in the women’s podium at the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race on Sunday 24 September, 2023.
With athletes seeking fast times and leading performances as they look to make a mark ahead of next year’s Olympic Games in Paris, Tigst faces formidable fields on the streets of the German capital.
This time they will face 10 other men with sub-2:06 PBs: Kenya’s Jonathan Maiyo, Eliud Kiptanui, Ronald Korir, Philemon Kiplimo, Enock Onchari and Mark Korir, and Ethiopia’s Tadu Abate, Andualem Shiferaw and Haftu Teklu, plus Eritrea’s Ghirmay Ghebreslassie.
She headlines the women’s race after improving the women’s course record by more than two minutes last year with her winning time of 2:15:37, a mark that places her fifth on the world all-time list.
She won by almost two-and-a-half minutes ahead of Rosemary Wanjiru and Tigst Abayechew, and Ethiopia’s Tigist Abayechew also returns to a race where she set her 2:18:03 PB.
“I’m delighted to be running again in Berlin,” said Tigst Assefa. “Last year’s race proved an unexpected success for me. I think I can run even faster on Sunday. A further improvement would be a success.”
In response to the question of whether a new course record would mean setting her sights on the world record of 2:14:04, she added: “Much can happen so I cannot say at the moment what would be the halfway split. I want to improve my time, but I am not thinking about the world record.”
Tigst Assefa and her compatriot and namesake Tigst Abayechew will race against another five women with sub-2:20 PBs and a further five who have dipped under 2:22.
Joining Tigst Assefa with a PB under 2:18 is Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui who is making her debut in the Berlin marathon.
Ethiopia’s Workenesh Edesa finished fourth last year in a PB of 2:18:51, while her compatriots Hiwot Gebrekidan and Zeineba Yimer, plus Japan’s Hitomi Niiya, are the other athletes in the field who have dipped under 2:20 in their careers so far.
Another Ethiopian Etagegne Woldu ran 2:20:03 in Valencia in December and is joined by her compatriots Gutemi Imana, Dera Dida and Yoshi Chekole, plus Romania’s Delvine Meringor.
The field also features Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi, the 2015 world 5000m silver medallist who set a world 5km record of 14:29 in 2021 and is contesting her third marathon.
On the other hand, the men’s race features Ethiopia’s Tadu Abate (2:05:38), Andualem Shiferaw (2:05:52), Haftu Teklu (2:05:53), Andamlak Belihu (2:06:40), and Taddese Takele 9debutant) as well as 4 time winner of this event Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge (2:01:09) and other runners across the world.
Kipchoge clocked 2:01:09 to improve his own world record by half a minute when winning in Berlin last year. That was his fourth victory – matching the feat achieved by Haile Gebrselassie – and now Kipchoge has the chance to go one better.