 International EliteNational EliteThe GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON will celebrate its 45th anniversary on March 29, 2026. As the event organizer, SCC EVENTS honors an impressive success story that has grown in parallel with Berlin’s development into Germany’s capital, while also setting clear priorities for the future (further details can be found in the press release dated January 29, 2026). In addition to thousands of athletes from more than 100 nations, both the national and international elite will be represented in Berlin.Men’s Elite Race: Amanal Petros with Chances of Victory In the men’s race, a German athlete is in the spotlight: Amanal Petros (Hannover 96) is returning to the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. One year ago, he broke his own national record at the Brandenburg Gate, becoming the first German to run under one hour with a time of 59:31 minutes. This outstanding performance earned him a strong third place. Could there be even more this time? At 30 years of age, Petros is the fastest athlete on the current start list based on personal bests and is aiming to challenge for victory. The last German win in the men’s race dates back to 1993, when Leipzig runner Carsten Eich claimed the title. “We are very pleased that Amanal Petros will be on the start line — a German runner with the potential to compete at the very front — and we are excited to see how he performs,” says Race Director Mark Milde. SCC EVENTS has also been aware for some time that the silver medalist at the 2025 World Marathon Championships in Tokyo intends to attack the European record of 58:41 minutes. “That time is one second faster than our course record. But it is still far too early to speculate about record attempts. Many factors have to come together,” Mark Milde adds. In addition to Amanal Petros, the favorites include Ethiopian Bereket Nega (personal best: 60:03) and Kenyan runner Benson Kiplangat, bronze medalist at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships. Fellow Kenyan Gideon Kiprotich will also compete in Berlin. Four more athletes from Germany’s top ranks will line up on March 29: Johannes Motschmann (Marathon Team Berlin/61:03), Simon Boch (61:15), Hendrik Pfeiffer (both Düsseldorf Athletics/61:28), and Sebastian Hendel (Marathon Team Berlin/61:52). Women’s Elite Race: African Runners Favored, Esther Pfeiffer Returns Likina Amebaw tops the women’s start list. The Ethiopian achieved her breakthrough in the half marathon last year, improving significantly with a winning time of 64:44 minutes in Copenhagen. Also highly regarded are Kenyan Veronica Loleo (personal best: 65:46) and the just 19-year-old Ethiopian Melal Siyoum (67:21). With seven top German athletes competing, the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON is shaping up to be an unofficial German championship. Esther Pfeiffer (Düsseldorf Athletics), who finished seventh last year as the top German athlete in Berlin, is the fastest among them with a personal best of 67:28 minutes. Pfeiffer is aiming to continue her progression and could once again achieve a very strong placing. This is also expected of Domenika Mayer (LG Telis Finanz Regensburg), who possesses greater potential than her current personal best of 69:46 minutes suggests. Alina Reh (SSV Ulm/68:42), Deborah Schöneborn (Marathon Team Berlin/69:41), steeplechase specialist Gesa Krause (Silvesterlauf Trier/69:47), Rabea Schöneborn (70:35), and Kristina Hendel (both Marathon Team Berlin/70:38) round out the group of German top contenders at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. |
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