Posted: May 23, 2004

Athletics: 11,142 women and girls make a new record at the AVON RUNNING Berlin Women's Run

Kathrin Weßel wins for the third time, Claudia Dreher comes in second

Once again, there was a new record number of participants at the 21st AVON RUNNING Berlin Women's Run. At the largest women's fitness event in Germany, 11,142 women and girls took to the start on Saturday afternoon in the Tiergarten Park. For the third time, Kathrin Weßel (SCC) won the 10k race. The Berliner ran a time of 33:51 minutes. The most prominent participant was Barbara Richstein. In a time of 51:35, the Minister for Justice and European Concerns from Brandenburg ran a quick time.

"We can be very satisfied with the event and are happy about the new record number of participants, despite the relatively cool weather. I am also pleased that with Kathrin Weßel winning, a Berliner runner from SCC won," said Mark Milde, the Race Director of the event organiser SCC RUNNING. There was a large supporting programme in the Tiergarten Park for the event.

"We are thrilled about the new increase in participation and look optimistically forward to next year, when we hope to have 12,000 runners," said Werner Köller, the marketing manager of the main sponsor, AVON, and added: "I would like to thank SCC RUNNING for the excellent organisation. The cooperation with the sponsors also was great."

Kathrin Weßel already dropped her competition at the 2k point and ran a lonesome race at the front. It was the 6th start at the AVON RUNNING Berlin Women's Run for the German 10,000m-record-holder. And at the end, it was her third victory, after winning in 2000 and 2002. "I had enough of a lead that I could enjoy the race at the end. Like last year, the atmosphere was great," declared the winner.

Claudia Dreher (Gänsefurther Sportbewegung) was also thrilled, even though she had hoped for more than the second place in 34:23, "The atmosphere was excellent, especially at the last 1000 metres. Everything fit perfectly at this race-the organisation, the atmosphere, and the participation," said Dreher, who was 9th in the marathon World Championships in 1999.

The record number of participants is as follows:

10-km-Race: 4,380
5-km-Race: 3,419
5-km-Race (Schoolgirls): 2,521
Walking und Nordic Walking: 308
Bambini Run: 514

Total: 11,142 (last year: 10,528)

Fun was the main goal of the 5k race, not competition. The fastest runner was Angelika Ehebrecht (Potsdamer LC) in 19:15 minutes. For the walkers, Karen Böhme (LG Nord) covered the 10k distance in 60:52 minutes. The fastest AVON consultant in the 10k race was Claudia Chromy in 48:01 minutes.

Results, 10 k:

1. Kathrin Weßel (SCC Berlin) 33:51 minutes
2. Claudia Dreher (Gänsefurther SB) 34:23
3. Judith Heinze (Bayer Leverkusen) 34:46
4. Angela Hänsel (LG Nike Berlin) 37:57
5. Rosemarie Kössler (SCC Berlin) 38:01
6. Sylvana Stupka (LAC Berlin) 38:28