On the road to next month’s London Marathon, Amanal Petros rallied to a third-place finish in the Berlin Half Marathon on Sunday (29) morning in a German record of 59:22 to move to fourth on the European all-time list.
The world marathon silver medallist bided his time in the second group in the early stages but worked his way through the field for a place on the podium again, finishing third for the second year in a row and shaving eight seconds from his previous national record of 59:31.
"It was cold and windy so I slowed down until my body warmed up. I am very happy with the German record," commented Petros.
Among those Petros passed in the latter stages were European 10,000m champion Dominic Lobalu from Switzerland and France’s Etienne Daguinos, both of whom were also rewarded with fast times in a race which thoroughly revised the European all-time half marathon list.
Lobalu finished fourth in 59:23 while Daguinos rebounded from a recent DNF in the Lisbon Half Marathon by finishing fifth in a lifetime best of 59:27, the fastest ever time by a French athlete.
Kenya’s Andrea Kiptoo took the victory in 59:11 ahead of pacemaker Dennis Kipkemoi who completed the race and finished second in the same time as a winner.
A lifetime best for Pfeiffer, a Belgian record for Herbiet
In the women’s race which was won by Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw in 65:07, Esther Pfeiffer was the leading German and European finisher, placing fifth in a lifetime best of 67:25. "I have had two tough weeks because I had a cold. But now I am thrilled about the personal best," she said.
Just behind Pfeiffer, European half marathon champion Chloe Herbiet smashed the long-standing Belgian record with 67:32 to finish sixth, breaking Marleen Renders’ previous mark of 68:56 which was set in 2002.
There was also a Spanish record for Carla Gallardo in eighth in 68:30.
In total, 17 athletes broke the 70 minute-barrier in the women’s race, 12 of whom were European.
Full results here.
Updated European men’s all-time half marathon list
58:41 - Andreas Almgren (SWE), 2025
59:01 - Yemaneberhan Crippa (ITA), 2026
59:13 - Julien Wanders (SUI), 2019
59:22 - Amanal Petros (GER), 2026
59:23 - Dominic Lobalu (SUI), 2026
59:27 - Etienne Daguinos (FRA), 2026
59:28 - Bashir Abdi (BEL), 2026
59:32 - Mo Farah (GBR), 2016
59:37 - Emmanuel Roudolff (FRA), 2026
59:39 - Carlos Mayo (ESP), 2023
Photos courtesy of SCC Events / Petko Beier