Press Release - Berlin Marathon - 6/25/11

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    World Record Holder Paula Radcliffe to run BMW BERLIN MARATHON 

Marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain is the top 
female entry at the BMW BERLIN MARATHON on September 25th. With her and 
Haile Gebrselassie on the starting line, both marathon record holders are 
competing in the same race – a premiere on German soil. Thirty-seven year 
old Radcliffe set her mark of 2:15:25 hrs 2003 in London. The BMW BERLIN 
MARATHON will be her first marathon after giving birth to her second child 
in September 2010. Her foremost goal in Berlin is to qualify for the 
Olympic marathon 2012 in London. The fast course in the German capital is 
the major reason for Radcliffe to run here. Seven world records were 
clocked in Berlin (four on the men's side and three on the women's side). 
Haile Gebrselassie set two marks here, 2:04:26hrs in 2007 and 2:03:59 hrs 
in 2008 on his way to win this race four times in a row (2006-2009). 

The stiffest competition for Radcliffe should come from German Irina 
Mikitenko, double winner of the Virgin London Marathon in 2008 and 2009. In 
2008 she won the Berlin race clocking a German and course record of 2:19:19 
hrs. 

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