World marathon silver medallist Amanal Petros is targeting another fast time in the Berlin Half Marathon on Sunday (29) on the road to the London Marathon next month.
Petros finished third in last year’s race in a national record of 59:31 and the German is looking to challenge the 59 minute-barrier this year, although the near freezing temperatures on Sunday morning could prove to be a hindrance to his record-breaking aspirations.
"I have been able to train very well in Kenya and I am optimistic. If it does not get too cold, I will aim for a time of around 59:00," said Petros in the pre-event press conference on Friday.
There hasn't been a German winner in the men's race since 1993 and Petros will face a strong Kenyan contingent in the men’s race which is spearheaded by a trio athletes who have all broken the 59 minute-barrier: Michael Temoi (58:00 PB), Eric Kiptanui (58:42) and Gideon Kiprotich (58:49).
And behind Petros, the elite men's race is replete with European interest. European 10,000m champion Dominic Lobalu from Switzerland will be seeking another fast time after clocking 59:26 in the Barcelona Half Marathon last month while former European 10km record-holder Etienne Daguinos will be looking to bounce back from a recent DNF in the Lisbon Half Marathon.
Daguinos, who has a 59:46 lifetime best for the half marathon, is the fastest of a strong French contingent in Berlin which also includes European half marathon bronze medallist Valentin Gondouin (60:17) and Bastien Augusto (60:18).
Herbiet headlines European interest in the women's race
The field in the elite women’s race is headed by the Spanish-based Ethiopian Likina Amebaw who improved to 64:44 in the Copenhagen Half Marathon last September.
From a European standpoint, there will be keen interest in the progress of Belgium’s Chloe Herbiet who was crowned European half marathon champion on home soil in Brussels-Leuven last April.
Herbiet has a relatively modest half marathon lifetime best of 70:04 but the Belgian made a significant improvement at the full marathon distance last year, clocking 2:20:38 to finish third in the Valencia Marathon just one week before helping Belgium to team gold at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa.
Based on this form, Herbiet should be capable of challenging the long-standing Belgian half marathon record of 68:56 set by Marleen Renders all the way back in 2002.
The German contingent in the women’s race includes Esther Pfeiffer (68:27 PB), Domenika Mayer (68:08), European 10km silver medallist Eva Dieterich (68:26) and former two-time European 3000m steeplechase champion Gesa Felicitas Krause (69:47) while other notable European entrants include Great Britain’s Samantha Harrison (67:10) and Switzerland’s Fabienne Schlumpf (68:27).
Last year’s races were won by Ethiopians Gemechu Dida and Fotyen Tesfay in 58:43 and 63:35 respectively.
The 2026 Berlin Half Marathon will be streamed live on the SCC Events YouTube channel from 9.45am CET (8.45am GMT).
Photo courtesy of SCC Events / Petko Beier