Official world's two fastest marathoners among elite field of 40th Berlin Marathon 2013 September 29

The 40th BMW Berlin Marathon 2013 on 29 September will see a head to head competition between two fastest marathon runners in the world in the IAAF list (Boston excluded),Patrick Makau and Wilson Kipsang, both Kenyans, among the top field of starters.

Top contenders :
Men
Patrick Makau (KEN) 28 -------- PB 2:03:38 (WR) Berlin 2011
Wilson Kipsang (KEN) 31 ------- PB 2:03:42 Frankfurt 2011
Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 29 -------- PB 2:05:30 (debut) Hamburg 2013
Geoffrey Kipsang (KEN) 21 ----- PB 2:06:12 Berlin 2012
Marilson Dos Santos (BRA) 36 -- PB 2:06:34 London 2011

Women
Florence Kiplagat (KEN) 26 - PB 2:19:44 Berlin 2011
*Irina Mikitenko (GER) 41 --- PB 2:19:19 Berlin 2008
Georgina Rono (KEN) 33 ----- PB 2:21:39 Frankfurt 2012
Sharon Cherop (KEN) 29 ----- PB 2:22:39 Dubai 2012
Desiree Davila (USA) 30 ------ PB 2:22:38 Boston 2011

*German record holder Irina Mikitenko, at 41, will be attempting to break the Master class women marathon world record of 2:25:43

Berlin Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race and a World Marathon Majors race, has produced 8 world records so far and in conjunction with its 40th anniversary, all the world record holders will be present for the celebration :
Christa Vahlensieck (W GER) Women 2:34:48 (1977)
Ronaldo Da Costa (BRA) Men 2:06:05 (1998)
Tegla Loroupe (KEN) Women 2:20:43 (1999)
Naoko Takahashi (JPN) Women 2:19:46 (2001) - 1st women to run under 2:20
Paul Tergat (KEN) Men 2:04:55 (2003)
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Men 2:04:26 (2007)
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) Men 2:03:59 (2008)
Patrick Makau (KEN) Men 2:03:38 (2011)

The race of this year received such an overwhelming  response that the capacity 40,000 slots were sold out in just three and a half hours on the opening day of registration on 25 October last year compared to six weeks for the last edition.

Statistics
Course records :
Men - 2:03:38 (WR) - Patrick Makau (KEN) 2011
Women - 2:19:12 - Mizuki Noguchi (JPN) 2005

World Records
 Men - 2:03:38 - Patrick Makau (KEN) 2011 Berlin
Women - 2:15:25 - Paula Radcliffe (GBR) 2003 London


World Leading :
Men - 2:04:45 - Leleisa Desisa Benti (ETH) Dubai 25 January 
Women -  2:20:15 - Prisca Jeptoo (KEN) London 21 April


Top finishers of 2012
Men
1. Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) 2:04:15
2. Dennis Kimetto (KEN) 2:04:16 (debut)
3. Geoffrey Kipsang (KEN) 2:06:12
Women
1. Aberu Kebede (ETH) 2:20:29
2. Tirfi Tsegaye (ETH) 2:21:19
3. Olena Shurhno (UKR) 2:23:32

Ref. Berlin Marathon