Posted: March 7, 2006

Athletics: US Marathon Star Deena Kastor will race the Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON

Deena Kastor, the Olympic bronze medallist in the marathon in Athens in 2004 will participate in the 26th Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON on April 2. She will be among the highest calibre competitors in the history of the race, according to an announcement made today by SCC-RUNNING race director, Mark Milde. Over 18,000 participants are expected at Germany’s largest half marathon, including not only runners, but also inline skaters, wheelchair competitors, hand cyclists, walkers, and Nordic walkers.

“We are thrilled to have Deena Kastor, a star in the international running scene, participate,” stated Mark Milde, adding: “And we are hoping that she will achieve a time in the vicinity of our course record.” The course record of 68:22 minutes has been held since 2000 by Joyce Chepchumba (Kenya). In Berlin, Deena Kastor will face among others last year’s champion Luminita Zaituc (LG Braunschweig), who won with a time of 71:04 and hopes to clearly improve on that time this year.

Finishing in 2:21:16 at the London Marathon in 2003, the 33-year-old Deena Kastor broke the US record previously held by Joan Benoit Samuelson, the first women’s marathon Olympic champion in 1984. One year after her Olympic bronze medal, she won the Chicago Marathon in October 2005. She also holds the women’s US half marathon record with a time of 67:53. This could also be the time that Deena Kastor is hoping to achieve on April 2 at the Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON, which will also serve as a trial run for her for the Flora London Marathon that will be taking place three weeks later.

Registration for the Vattenfall BERLIN HALF MARATHON is also possible on line at www.berliner-halbmarathon.de.

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