Ethiopia may lose 2010 Berlin Marathon amid Gebrselassie’s absence

With Gebrselassie, the famous Ethiopian marathoner missing the much awaited 2010 Berlin Marathon, the event might give a different look. The Ethiopian spectators would specially miss his performance at the fast tracks of Berlin where runners like Makau, Mutai, Karir and Warku would now be attracting much of the attention.

Owing to its steady and plan tracks, Berlin Marathon is usually admired for depicting some of the fastest times. The Berlin tracks have already helped runners around the globe in making five individual and two world records on them. At such pacing tracks, the presence of Gebrselassie could have made the results more interesting but now in his absence, the room is completely available for others to fill. Gebrselassie couldn’t make it to the 2010 Berlin Marathon as he currently is preparing for the New York Marathon to be held on 7th November 2010.

Although, the 37-year-old has shown some of his best performances at Berlin fields, with the last being two years back when he made it to the finishing line within two hours, three minutes and fifty nine seconds, but as he longs for the American event, the Ethiopian spectators are definitely going to miss him in Berlin. The Kenyan, Patrick Makau is currently being seen as the favorite for the event with Mutai and Warku following the cue respectively. Warku now represents the Ethiopian side in the absence of Gebrselassie.

The profiles of these three best players also look impressive as Patrick Makau holds the record of World’s fourth fastest ever with a PB of two hours, four minutes and forty eight seconds at the Rotterdam Marathon. Similarly, Geoffrey Mutai also hails from Kenya and he had given Makau some tough time at Rotterdam. Both of them have already been on the Berlin tracks for several times so they understand their nature as well as the expected weather conditions and the crowed.

Another talented runner, competing in the event, is Eliud Kiptanui, who also is a Kenyan. No doubt, the African athletes have always dominated the marathon grounds around the globe but the new emerging trio of the fastest runners is clearly showing that Kenya is going to rule the rooster for next couple of years.
Although, Germany does not have any solid domestic contender for the men’s marathon, it certainly has some of the favorite athletes in its women badge. In the much awaited event, German side would be represented by the young, Sabrina Mockenhaupt while the 2008’s winner, Mikitenko would be opting for the Chicago Marathon.

At a time when men’s marathons seem to be dominated by Kenyan runners, the women side is fully covered by Ethiopian runners which are not only young and experienced, they also have some impressive PBs. Having said this, no matter who wins the event, spectators are sure to enjoy some fantastic running.