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Flash Quotes from winners and leading finishers

2007-04-01

Patrick Makau Musyoki (Kenya), winner of the 27th Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 58:56 (course record and personal best)

“I’m happy to have broken the course record and very pleased with how things went for me in Berlin. The course is very good and I’m sure that the world record can be broken here.”

On the conditions:

“The first ten kilometers were run at a pace that were very good for me and the tailwind was also a help, of course, as we went through in 27:27. We were all working for each other. But at the end the wind was sometimes quite strong.”

On plans for the future:

First of all I’m going back to Kenya and will do some track races there and try and qualify (for the Kenyan team) in the 5,000 m at the World Championships in Osaka.”

Francis Kibiwott (Kenya), 2nd in 59:26 (personal best)

“I’m happy with the way the race went. I wanted to run 59 minutes and am delighted with a personal best. Next time I really want to go even better.”

Evans Cheruiyot (Kenya), 3rd in 59:48

“The competition was stronger than a year ago. Next time I want to run faster.”

Benita Johnson, the first Australian winner of the women’s title at the 27th Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 68:28  

“It was tough all the way. I had to run most of the race on my own though the pacemaker did a good job. Despite that it was a fantastic race on a great course and the spectators were great.”

On the spectators:

“I really felt as if I were back home. There were so many people lining the course and cheering me on. I didn’t think fans were like that apart from back in Australia. They gave me such wonderful encouragement when I was out there on my own.”

Irina Mikitenko (Germany), 2nd in the 27th Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 69:46

“I was determined to run under 70 minutes and I achieved that. I’m delighted with second place but I know today that I can improve still further. I ran the whole distance on my own and at times the wind was really strong.”

On her ambitions for a marathon debut in the autumn:

“My focus this year is on my marathon debut, even if I qualify for the 10,000 m in Osaka (at the World championships). Another reason for running the half-marathon was to see what the course for the marathon was like and I have to say it’s very fast.”

Luminita Zaituc (Germany), 3rd in the  27th Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON in 71:56

“I’m very happy with third place. I never expected that. I didn’t feel that great during the race. I felt ill and thought back to the European championships in Gothenburg last year. I started to feel really ill over the last few kilometers and had to stop. But then I saw Edith and my coach shouted that I could catch her. I pulled myself together and did it.”