TheFinalSprint.com - Track & Field, Marathons, Racing News, Training Advice, Elite Athlete Blogs, Interviews, Podcasts, Videos and More! - TheFinalSprint.com is the Premier Destination for Track & Field, Marathon, Cross Country, Olympic and Road Racing Enthusiasts.

TFS to Expand Writing Staff and Internship Program

Whether you are a seasoned veteran, an aspiring journalist, or even just a knowledgeable fan looking for a profitable hobby, we want to hear from you! Click here to apply today!

Berlin Marathon 2007:
Women’s Preview

Posted September 29th, 2007 at 9:00 PM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The Women’s Race at the 2007 Berlin Marathon promises to bring great excitement to the German capital and the approximately one million spectators who will line the downtown course. This event has been the site of two women’s marathon world records in the last 8 years, Kenyan Tegla Loroupe’s 2:20:43 in 1999 and the first female sub-2:20 (2:19:46) by Japan’s Naoko Takahashi in 2001. The race will play a critical role in deciding the women’s champion of the first World Marathon Majors competition, which will conclude in November at the ING New York City Marathon.

Headlining the women’s field will be Ethiopian phenom Gete Wami, who won this race last year in a stellar 2:21:34. Wami has a sparkling resume in the 10,000m on the track and made her marathon debut in 2002 with a victory at Amsterdam (2:22:19). Last year’s Berlin victory and this year’s runner-up finish at London (2:21.45 in warm conditions) demonstrate that she is in fine form and is a clear favorite. Adding to the intrigue is Wami’s quest to take the women’s World Marathon Majors championship. With a victory in Berlin Wami would pass Latvia’s Jelena Prokopcuka for the overall lead in the standings. Barring injury she would then take on Prokopcuka in New York in just five weeks, an unheard of turnaround for an elite marathoner. Such an effort is risky but could well be validated by the $500,000.00 USD first prize.

Wami will, however, have her work cut out for her in Berlin. The stiffest test should come from Japan’s Naoko Sakamoto, who has run only four marathons but has a personal best only 17 seconds slower than Wami’s. Her most notable performances include 4th place at the 2003 World Championships, a victory at the Osaka Women’s Marathon, and a 7th place finish in the 2004 Athens Olympic marathon. Sakamoto is reportedly in excellent shape and will try to restore national pride in this event, as Japanese women have the three fastest times ever at Berlin and took the individual title from 2000-2005. Russia’s Irina Timofeyeva (2:25:29 PB) and German hope Irina Mikitenko will also be challenging Wami. Mikitenko has been a top German distance runner for years but at 35 is just now making her marathon debut. She will have a strong following on the boisterous streets of Berlin.

Overall the women’s field at the 2007 Berlin marathon is deep and competitive. The course lends itself to fast times and dramatic finishes, and – with the added significance of the World Marathon Majors – this contest should be fantastic theater.