by Larry Eder10,423 runners braved the BIG 25k distance through the streets of Berlin, Germany on Sunday. Mathew Kisorio and Filomena Chepchirchir gave us world leaders over the distance for 2011. Just another example of how the sport is growing on a global stage!
World leads by Mathew Kisorio
and Filomena Chepchirchir at BIG 25 Berlin
The BIG 25
Berlin have confirmed its
position as the world’s leading 25 k race. Despite the warm weather
world leads for the men and women were established at the Berlin Olympic
Stadium. While a year ago both world records were broken at the BIG 25
Berlin this time Mathew
Kisorio (Kenya) clocked 1:12:13, which is the third fastest time ever run at
the distance. The 21 year-old missed the world record of his fellow
countryman Samuel Kosgei, who had finished with 1:11:50 in 2010, by just 23 seconds. Women’s winner
Filomena Chepchirchir clocked 1:23:22, the fastest time so far in 2011. Adding
other running events organisers of BERLIN RUNS registered 10,423 entries
for the 31st edition of the BIG 25 Berlin.
„We have seen
another great race with world-class times. Unfortunately it was a bit
too warm for a world record. But therefore we had more spectators at the
course than in the past,” said Race Director Gerhard Janetzky. “Today’s
event certainly is among the very best in the history of the BIG 25
Berlin.”
In
the men’s race a group of Kenyan favourites was on course for a world
record until the half marathon mark. It was only on the final three
kilometres, when Mathew Kisorio was running alone, that he could not
quite keep the pace. “It is a fantastic event. Sadly it was too warm to
break the world record,” said the 21 year-old, who had impressed with a
fourth place at the IAAF’s World Cross Country Championships in March.
With his time of 1:12:13 he was well ahead of fellow Kenyans Levi
Matebo (1:12:46), Eliud Kiptanui
(1:12:59), Nathaniel Kipkosgei (1:14:00) and Onesmus Serem (1:14:05). Tujuba Beyu (Ethiopia/1:14:50) and Japhet Kipkorir
(Kenya/1:14:59) also finished
inside 1:15, taking sixth and
seventh places.
In the women’s race
Filomena Chepchirchir had been regarded as the favourite. And the 29
year-old Kenyan confirmed this, when she appeared to dominate the race.
Chepchirchir, who had won the BIG 25 Berlin in 2007 and had placed second the year after,
clocked 1:23:22, which is the
fourth fastest time ever in the history of the event and a personal
best. She was well ahead of fellow Kenyans Diana Chepkemoi (1:26:14) and Christine Chepkemei (1:28:24).
More information is available at:
www.berlin-runs.com
The title sponsor BIG is a German online national health service
company (BIG direkt gesund). More information is available at:
www.big-direkt.de
—
Service
by: www.race-news-service.com
