Posted: May 7, 2006

Athletics: Great times by Patrick Musyoki and Peninah Arusei in Berlin’s 25K

The Kenyan win streak remains unbroken at the Run Berlin. In ideal weather conditions Kenyan Patrick Musyoki won the 26th edition. The 21 year-old finished in the second fastest time of the year in 1:14:08 hours in the Olympic Stadium. He almost missed out on victory, because he took the wrong turn just inside the Olympic Stadium. But he turned immediately already facing his compatriot Francis Bowen just behind him. With a very strong last 400 m Patrick Musyoki sprinted towards victory leaving Francis Bowen (1:14:12) behind. "It was a great race and the weather was perfect for me. In the stadium I was a little bit irritated but nevertheless I won,” said the winner. In the women’s race Peninah Arusei from Kenya won in 1:26:25 hours. "It was a good race although I had to run most of the time by myself,“ she said after finishing. Peninah Arusei improved her personal best by more than three minutes. Asale Tafa (Ethiopia) was able to finish second despite of her slow first half of the race. She clocked 1:28:13. Kristina Loonen (Netherlands) was the best European. She finished third in 1:30:42 hours. A total of 10,495 participants joined the 26th edition of the Run Berlin with various races. Lennart Sponar was the best German runner clocking 1:25:41. In the women’s race the best German was Iris Tiedeken in 1:44:27.

"It was a great event with superb weather and good results. That is of course nice for the spectators, who had contrary conditions last year. We were able to increase the number of participants once more and are very pleased with that,“ Race Director Derk Kogelheide explained. All together 10,495 athletes had entered the Run Berlin. 6,186 of them participated in the 25 k race, 2,966 in the 10 k Nike Challenge fun run. As well there were 724 inline skaters and 30 teams in the 5x5 k relay. In the kids race 366 kids were running and 103 children participated in the junior skating race.

The Kenyans showed once more their dominant position in international road running. Right from the start a leading group of nine men ran their own race throughout the 25 k long course. “After 10 k the pacemakers were too slow. So I pushed the pace a bit. At 23 k I knew I would have a chance to win, so I increased the pace,” Patrick Musyoki said. He ran the last kilometre in 2:43 minutes. Favourite Elijah Sang couldn’t stand the pace of Musyoki and Bowen and had to let them get away three kilometres ahead of the finish. He finished third in 1:14:33. It is the fifth time in a row that only Kenyans finished within top three at the 25 k of Berlin.

In the women’s race Peninah Arusei made it six wins in a row for Kenya at this race. The first 10 k (34:22 minutes) were fast, due to a slightly downhill course in that part. "I am happy with my new personal best,“ said Peninah Arusei who led the field from the beginning. After 9 k the leading group broke apart. Peninah Arusei increased the pace and ran the rest of the race alone. Asale Tafa couldn’t follow and finished in 1:28:13.

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