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)
Kenya Eric Kiptanui
Women's: 1:05:02 (2022)
Kenya Sheila Chepkirui
Official siteBerlin Half Marathon
Participants26,104 finishers (2023)
22,236 (2022)
13,283 (2021)
28,729 (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

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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. [citation needed]

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. [citation needed]

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 12 March. The decision came from the Berlin authorities as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak.[5]

Course records

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Running

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Inline Skating

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  • Men: 0:30:11, Ewen Fernandez (  Netherlands), 2017
  • Women: 0:36:22, Jana Gegner (  Germany), 2005

Wheelchair

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

Handbike

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

Past winners

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

Running

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Half Marathon

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Year Men's winner Time Women's winner Time
2024   Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) 0:59:30   Tekle Muluat (ETH) 1:06:53
2023   Sabastian Sawe (KEN) 0:59:00   Eilish McColgan (GBR) 1:05:43
2022   Alex Kibet (KEN) 0:58:55   Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) 1:05:02
2021   Felix Kipkoech (KEN) 0:58:57   Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) 1:05:16
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 [nl] (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 Kamworor (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 (TCH) 1:12:08
1991   Rustam Shagiev (URS) 1:06:14   Madina Biktagirova (URS) 1:11:34
1990   Stephan Freigang (GDR) 1:02:25   Birgit Stephan (GDR) 1:14:20
1989   Andrzej Nowak (POL) 1:06:57   Silvia Wilhelm (FRG) 1:21:29
1988   Ingo Sensburg (FRG) 1:10:45   Kerstin Preßler (FRG) 1:13:05
1987   Ingo Sensburg (FRG) 1:09:43   Silvia Wilhelm (FRG) 1:17:19
1986   Ingo Sensburg (FRG) 1:06:33   Andrea Knapp (FRG) 1:19:49
1985   Ingo Sensburg (FRG) 1:07:39   Kerstin Preßler (FRG) 1:15:44
1984   Bernie Dowson (GBR) 1:06:51   Angelika Brandt (FRG) 1:22:45

Berlin Peace Run (20 kilometer)

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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

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Year Men's winner Time Women's winner Time
2024   Nolan Beddiaf (FRA) 30:13   Laura Files (GER) 38:57
2023   Felix Rijhnen (GER) 30:53   Josie Hofmann (GER) 36:58
2022   Felix Rijhnen (GER) 33:49   Josie Hofmann (GER) 37:53
2021   Bart Swings (BEL) 29:38   Sandrine Tas (BEL) 36:12
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic[5]
2019   Nolan Beddiaf (FRA) 30:41   Chloé Geoffroy (FRA) 36:59
2018   Sebastian Mirsch (GER) 32:31   Katharina Rumpus (GER) 38:48
2017   Ewen Fernandez (FRA) 30:11   Katharina Rumpus (GER) 37:25
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

[6] [7]

References

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  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. ^ "Events Calendar | World Athletics".
  3. ^ History of the Berlin Half Marathon
  4. ^ 2018 Berlin Half Marathon news
  5. ^ a b c "Event Update". Berlin Half Marathon. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  6. ^ Berlin Half Marathon Results archive
  7. ^ Berlin Half Marathon Numbers and records
List of winners
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