-
The outstanding marathon runner of recent years, Eluid
Kipchoge, (KEN), wins in Berlin for the second time, having
previously won in 2015. -
Gladys Cherono (KEN) also repeats her victory from two years
ago at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON. -
BMW Running Ambassador Anna Hahner comes home fifth in
2:28.32 hours to finish as the best-placed German and qualify for
the European Championships. -
Title partner BMW supports the marathon with roughly 50
sustainable BMW i and BMW i Performance automobiles.
Berlin. The clock on
2:03.32
hours as Olympic champion Eluid Kipchoge ran through the
Brandenburg Gate to win the 44th BMW BERLIN MARATHON. The
32-year-old was embroiled in a captivating duel with marathon
debutant Guye Adola (ETH) on the wet route, and only pulled clear to
win in the final kilometre. In the women’s race too, the biggest
marathon in Germany lived up to its reputation as an extremely fast
route, despite challenging conditions:
Gladys Cherono
was victorious in a world-class time of
2:20.23
hours, cheered on by over one million spectators who lined the
42.195-kilometre route. BMW Running Ambassador made a successful
comeback after a long injury layoff, and finished well within the
European Championships standard. BMW was involved for the seventh
time as title partner of the fourth of six World Marathon Majors.
“A great passion for running among the 70,000 people taking part and
those watching along the route, and outstanding results from the elite
athletes – the BMW BERLIN MARATHON was once again a top-class festival
of marathon running this year,” said Stefanie Wurst, Head of Marketing
BMW Germany. “On behalf of BMW, I would like to congratulate Eluid
Kipchoge and Gladys Cherono on their wins. Both produced
excellent performances and crowned a running event that captures the
imagination of many around the world. The whole event raised the bar
again this year. I would like to say a big thank you for that to our
partner, promoter SSC EVENTS GmbH, and particularly the 5,500
volunteers. It was the perfect stage for the new BMW i3, our
official timing and lead car, and the revolutionary BMW i8 plug-in
hybrid sports car.”
It came as no huge surprise that Kipchoge, the top favourite coming
into the event, emerged triumphant. However, his biggest challenge was
expected to come from last year’s winner Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) and
Wilson Kipsang (KEN), who both retired before the end of the race.
Instead it was Guye Adola (KEN) who put up the biggest fight. The
marathon debut refused to be shaken off and actually pulled ahead
around the 37-kilometre mark. Ultimately, however, it was the more
experienced Kipchoge who prevailed. Despite this, Adola can still be
more than happy with his time of 2:03.46 hours. Gladys Cherono opened
up a big lead over the rest of the field, and claimed her second
Berlin victory in commanding fashion.
For Anna Hahner , the BMW BERLIN MARATHON represented the first start
over 42.195 kilometres since the 2016 Olympic Games, since when she
has had to endure a long injury layoff. The 27-year-old suffered a
torn tendon in her right thigh during the race in Rio de Janeiro. As
such, the BMW Running Ambassador was simply delighted to be able to
take her place at the start. Fifth place was an outstanding comeback,
and her time ensured that she easily qualified for the European
Athletic Championships, which also takes place in Berlin next year.
BMW was title partner in Berlin for the seventh time this year,
during which time it has always provided a fully-electric lead car.
This year, the Munich-based automobile group once again contributed to
the success of the largest one-day sporting event in Germany with
about 50 pioneering and sustainable cars. As well as the lead car, the
BMW i3s (electricity consumption: 14.3 kWh/100 km, combined CO2
emissions: 0 g/km), the BMW i8 (combined fuel consumption: 2.1 l/100
km, combined CO2 emissions: 49 g/km) was also in action out on the
track as the safety car, while a further seven timing cars and twelve
BMW E-Scooter C evolutions (electricity consumption: 9.0
kWh/100 km, combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km) were also used. An
additional 40 organisational and shuttle cars rounded off the BMW fleet.
The BMW i3 is not only used as the official lead car at the BMW
BERLIN MARATHON. The zero-emission car also leads the way at the other
major German marathons, which BMW once again supports as main sponsor
and automobile partner this season. These include the LEIPZIG MARATHON
(9th April) and the Haspa Marathon Hamburg (23rd April), which have
already taken place this year, as well as the RheinEnergieMarathon
Köln (1st October), the MUNICH MARATHON (8th
October) and the Mainova Frankfurt Marathon (30th October).
BMW is also partner of other important running events, such as the
marathons in Tokyo and Shanghai, the BMW Dallas Marathon, the BMW Oslo
Marathon, and the Vienna City Marathon.