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Berlin secures the top position

World record statistics

2003-12-30

Paul Tergats historical run on September 28, 2003 not only assured a place for him in the sport history annals, but also for the real,- BERLIN MARATHON. With now a total of five world records, the real,- BERLIN MARATHON lies at the top of the ranking of the current city marathon races.

real,- BERLIN-MARATHON	5 World records	1977, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003
Flora London Marathon	4 World records	1983, 1985, 2002, 2003
La Salle Banks Chicago Marathon	4 World records	1984, 1999, 2001, 2002
ING New York City Marathon	3 World records	1978, 1979, 1980
Fortis Rotterdam Marathon	3 World records	1985, 1988, 1998
BAA Boston Marathon	3 World records	1947, 1975, 1983

The unique atmosphere, the good asphalt, the favourable weather, the flat and straight course, as well as the professional organisation guarantee that year after year the top athletes make the trip to Berlin with the goal of presenting high class running. It speaks even more for Berlin that the top athletes often choose Berlin over other higher paying marathons in order to achieve their best performances here.

Not to be forgotten are the world records achieved in Berlin in other categories (teams of three, debutants, and junior world records) and the world records in other disciplines, like the 25 km distance, and European records at the Bewag BERLIN HALF MARATHON, which all prove that Berlin offers runners the fastest streets in the world.

The well-deserving marathon “runners of the year“ are clearly the new world record holders Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25 London) from England and Paul Tergat (2:04:55 Berlin) from Kenya for their sensational achievements. Extra recognition goes out to the runner-up in Berlin, Sammy Korir, also from Kenya. After more than 2 hours, he was only one second behind the victorious Tergat at the finish, while having been responsible for the fast pace over the previous 40 kilometres. His investment in the real,- BERLIN MARATHON will pay off for Korir in the future, too, however.

It is doubtful whether the year 2004 will also bring so many records. The Olympic Games will dominate the planning for the season so greatly that world records will have to take a back seat. But it will certainly be exciting.

Beginning on January 1, 2004, the IAAF will for the first time recognise world records for street races, as long as certain criteria are met (the course may not be shorter than the official course length, start and finish may not lie more than 21 km apart, and the gradient between the start and finish must be smaller than 42 metres). Paula Radcliffe and London and Paul Tergat and Berlin will thus become the first marathons recorded with world record times.