Amanal Petros goes record-hunting in Berlin

German eyes European half marathon mark after final yr’s podium success, whereas robust British contingent proceed their marathon build-up.

The eye of the house crowd will probably be on Amanal Petros on Sunday (March 29) as he goes seeking the European file on the forty fifth version of the Generali Berlin Half Marathon.

The Eritrean-born 30-year-old who competes for Germany, profitable marathon silver eventually summer time’s world championships, is making his remaining preparations for the TCS London Marathon subsequent month and is eyeing the continental mark of 58:41 held by Sweden’s Andreas Almgren.

If he have been to succeed, it will symbolize an enormous leap ahead. He turned the primary German to interrupt the hour mark for the half marathon in Berlin final yr, setting a nationwide file of 59:31 as he crossed the end line in third place on the Brandenburg Gate.

Petros is seventh-fastest on a begin listing that’s headed by Kenyan Michael Temoi, who received the Rome Ostia Half Marathon on March 1 with a course file and private better of 58:00, albeit that course isn’t file eligible.

His fellow countrymen Eric Kiptanui (58:42) and Gideon Kiprotich (58:49) will probably be within the thick of the battle, too, whereas Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu (59:22) provides to the European problem.

The lads’s race will characteristic a robust contingent of British athletes, a lot of whom are additionally constructing as much as the London Marathon. Of that group, Jake Smith (60:31) has the quickest private finest for the half marathon, adopted by Ben Connor (60:55), Marc Scott (61:00) and Phil Sesemann (61:22).

Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw, winner of final yr’s Copenhagen Half Marathon, tops the ladies’s begin lists together with her private better of 64:44 and will effectively be eyeing the Berlin course file of 63:35 set by Fotyen Tesfay final yr.

Kenyan Veronica Loleo, whose better of 65:46 got here in ending third in Valencia final October, can be among the many favourites, whereas her 23-year-old compatriot Daisilah Jerono is third-fastest on the listing with 66:59.

Britain’s Sam Harrison sits fourth-fastest on the listing together with her better of 67:10 as she heads into the occasion that noticed Eilish McColgan set the nationwide file of 65:43 again in 2023.

Harrison is joined on the beginning line by fellow Brits Lily Partridge (69:34), Lauren McNeil (69:38) and Natasha Phillips (70:18).

Full begin lists right here