Press Release - Big 25 Berlin - 5/6/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

            Defending Champion and Course Record Holder
            Peninah Arusei Returns to the BIG 25 Berlin

Berlin, GER - May 6, 2009 --- Peninah Arusei will return to the BIG 25 
Berlin as the defending champion next Sunday. The Kenyan had won the race, 
which famously finishes inside the Olympic Stadium, with a course record of 
1:24:10 a year ago. As announced earlier Kenya's running legend Paul Tergat 
will compete in this traditional 25K race, which in 1981 was Germany's 
first major international city road race. For Paul Tergat it will be the 
first time he will run a race in Germany since setting a world marathon 
record of 2:04:55 in Berlin in 2003.  

The race will be started in front of the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. The 
course then leads the runners through the city centre of the capital, 
passing Brandenburg Gate, Friedrichstraße, Potsdamer Platz and 
Gedächtniskirche. Organisers expect around 9,000 entries for their race, 
which will also include a 10K race, a 5x5K relay and a children's race. 
More information is available online at: www.berlin-runs.com.

It is still possible to enter Sunday's race. Bib numbers will be available 
on Friday (1 to 8pm) and Saturday (10am to 6pm) at the BERLIN RUNS expo at 
the Ku'damm Karree on Kurfürstendamm 206 – 209. 

"It will not be easy for Peninah Arusei to defend her title at the BIG 25 
Berlin, because she will meet tough opposition. There are two more women in 
the race who have run sub-70-minute half marathons. On Sunday it might be 
necessary to break the course record again to win this race," said 
Christoph Kopp, who is responsible for the elite runners of the BIG 25 
Berlin.

One who could be in with a chance is Magdaline Mukunzi (Kenya). She 
features a half marathon best of 68:52, which is just a little slower than 
Peninah Arusei. Pauline Wangui will also compete at the BIG 25 Berlin for 
the first time. She has shown fine form this season as well as in 2008. The 
Kenyan won the City Pier City Half Marathon in Den Hague in both years, 
clocking a personal best of 69:49 in 2008. In that year she was also second 
at the Berlin Half Marathon with another sub-70-minute time (69:51). 
Pauline Wangui clocked a personal 20K best of 66:39 minutes two months ago, 
when winning the Dutch Alphen aan den Rijn race.

More information is available online at: www.berlin-runs.com 

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