AFP, BERLIN

The next generation of running talent takes center stage at today’s Berlin Marathon, in the absence of stars including Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopian world record holder Tigist Assefa.

With most of the major marathon stars skipping the event in the wake of the Paris Olympics just more than a month ago, the field is wide open in the men’s and women’s races.

Since 2015, Kipchoge has won five times in Berlin, Kenenisa Bekele has won twice and Guye Adola once — with all three missing today.

Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele crosses the finish line in third place at the Berlin Marathon on Sept. 23 last year.

Photo: Reuters

Kenyan Kibiwott Kandie and Ethiopian Tadese Takele are among the favourites for the men, while Olympic silver medallist Assefa’s training partner Tigist Ketema leads a quality field including 2014 Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year Genzebe Dibaba.

The favorable conditions in the German capital have produced 13 world records in the event’s 50-year history. Two of those have come in the past two years, with Kipchoge breaking the world mark in 2022 and Assefa smashing the women’s mark a year later.

Suggestions the Kipchoge era is over might be premature, with the 39-year-old telling Germany’s Bild tabloid on Thursday that he “wants to run fast and inspire people for a while longer.”

There is little doubt however the Kenyan, who failed to finish in Paris due to injury, has entered the twilight of his career, making Berlin the perfect stage for the next generation to emerge.

Five of the men have run under 2:05 so far in their careers, highlighting how competitive today’s race could be. Takele’s time of 2:03:24, recorded last year in Berlin as he finished third, is the best in the field, although that was the last time the Ethiopian competed internationally.

“I was injured but I am fit now,” Takele, just 22, said on Friday. “I’ve trained very well and I expect to run a strong race.”

One-time half-marathon world record holder Kandie is also expected to be among the best.

Kenya’s Cybrian Kotut and Ethiopian duo Hailemaryam Kiros and Bazezew Asmare are the others to have run south of 2:05.

Kipchoge’s Berlin record of 2:01:09, set in 2022 as a world mark, was bettered by Kelvin Kiptum in October 2023 in Chicago, just months before the 24-year-old was killed in a car accident this past February.

Ketema, 26, might be a newcomer to marathon running, but her time of 2:16:07 on her debut in January shows she belongs at the top level. “I’ve prepared for a personal best,” Ketema said on Thursday.

Berlin’s flat terrain is perfect for marathon running and setting record times; the race does not exceed 53m above sea level and would not drop below 37m. The city’s open boulevards mean there are fewer turns and the late September temperature ranges from 12°C and 18°C — perfect conditions for running, while wind is limited.

The positive conditions have consistently attracted the best runners, which has in turn bred success, with the world’s top performers pushing each other to improve.