# Berlin Half Marathon

The Berlin Half Marathon is a major endurance event held annually in early spring in Berlin, Germany. Besides the runner's main race, the event includes a race for inline skaters, wheelchair athletes and handbikers. All athletes use the same course, which has the official half marathon distance of 21.0975 km.
The half marathon and the Berlin Marathon are hosted by the club SCC Berlin and organized by SCC EVENTS. The half marathon is categorized as a Bronze Label Road Race by World Athletics.

## History

The story of the Berlin half marathon reflects a major part of the history of the German capital. Its predecessors came from East and West Berlin. The race, as it exists today, arose in 1990 from the Berliner Friedenslauf (Berlin Peace Run) which took place in East Berlin since 1982 and the SCC Half Marathon in the western part of the city.
The Berliner Friedenslauf covered various distances, among others a 20-kilometre race and a marathon. The event was established by the government of the GDR and served not only as a sporting event but also as an important propaganda tool. The SCC Half Marathon on the other side had local character and was designed to be the final test in preparation for the Berlin marathon, which took place four weeks later.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the ensuing collapse of the GDR, the support for the Berliner Friedenslauf also diminished. So the former organizer Stefan Senkel quickly had to find a new partner to save the race. SCC-RUNNING, the organizer of the Berlin marathon, joined. Both parties agreed on one distance: a half marathon. Thus, there is only one major half marathon in Berlin since 1990.
Over the years the Berlin half marathon increased in size and popularity. Today it is by far the biggest half marathon race in Germany, with a record 36,000 participants in 2018.
The 40th anniversary of the Generali Berlin half marathon, which was planned to be held on April 5, 2020, was announced cancelled on 12 March. The decision came from the Berlin authorities as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

## Course records
### Running

* Men: 0:58:42, Eric Kiptanui ( Kenya), 2018
* Women: 1:05:02, Sheila Chepkirui ( Kenya), 2022

### Inline Skating

* Men: 0:30:11, Ewen Fernandez ( Netherlands), 2017
* Women: 0:36:22, Jana Gegner ( Germany), 2005

### Wheelchair

* Men: 0:55:54, Tomasz Hamerlak ( Poland), 1997
* Women: 0:56:54, Yvonne Sehmisch ( Germany), 2007

### Handbike

* Men: 0:32:47, Olaf Heine ( Germany), 2016
* Women: 0:38:40, Christiane Reppe ( Germany), 2014

## Past winners
### Running
#### Half Marathon

| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
| 2024 | Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) | 0:59:30 | Tekle Muluat (ETH) | 1:06:53 |
| 2023 | Sabastian Sawe (KEN) | 0:59:00 | Eilish McColgan (GBR) | 1:05:43 |
| 2022 | Alex Kibet (KEN) | 0:58:55 | Sheila Chepkirui (KEN) | 1:05:02 |
| 2021 | Felix Kipkoech (KEN) | 0:58:57 | Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) | 1:05:16 |
| 2020 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2019 | William Wanjiku (KEN) | 1:01:00 | Sifan Hassan (NED) | 1:05:45 |
| 2018 | Eric Kiptanui (KEN) | 0:58:42 | Melat Kejeta (ETH) | 1:09:04 |
| 2017 | Gilbert Masai (KEN) | 0:59:57 | Joan Chelimo (KEN) | 1:08:45 |
| 2016 | Richard Mengich [nl] (KEN) | 0:59:58 | Elizeba Cherono (NED) | 1:10:43 |
| 2015 | Birhanu Legese (ETH) | 0:59:45 | Cynthia Kosgei (KEN) | 1:10:52 |
| 2014 | Leonard Komon (KEN) | 0:59:14 | Tadelech Bekele (ETH) | 1:10:05 |
| 2013 | Jacob Kendagor (KEN) | 0:59:36 | Helah Kiprop (KEN) | 1:07:54 |
| 2012 | Dennis Kipruto (KEN) | 0:59:14 | Philes Ongori (KEN) | 1:08:25 |
| 2011 | Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) | 1:00:38 | Valentine Kipketer (KEN) | 1:10:12 |
| 2010 | Eshetu Wondimu (ETH) | 1:00:16 | Paskalia Kipkoech (KEN) | 1:09:43 |
| 2009 | Bernard Kipyego (KEN) | 0:59:34 | Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) | 1:08:45 |
| 2008 | Patrick Makau (KEN) | 1:00:00 | Peninah Arusei (KEN) | 1:08:22 |
| 2007 | Patrick Makau (KEN) | 0:58:56 | Benita Johnson (AUS) | 1:08:28 |
| 2006 | Paul Kosgei (KEN) | 0:59:07 | Edith Masai (KEN) | 1:07:16 |
| 2005 | Paul Kimugul (KEN) | 1:01:04 | Luminita Zaituc (GER) | 1:11:04 |
| 2004 | Paul Kirui (KEN) | 1:00:40 | Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) | 1:09:49 |
| 2003 | Paul Kirui (KEN) | 1:01:05 | Magdaline Chemjor (KEN) | 1:11:12 |
| 2002 | Peter Chebet (KEN) | 1:01:19 | Rose Cheruiyot (KEN) | 1:09:32 |
| 2001 | Fabián Roncero (ESP) | 0:59:52 | Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) | 1:09:37 |
| 2000 | Joseph Mereng (KEN) | 1:01:52 | Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) | 1:08:22 |
| 1999 | Benson Lokorwa (KEN) | 1:03:25 | Joyce Chepchumba (KEN) | 1:10:26 |
| 1998 | Andrew Eyapan (KEN) | 1:03:59 | Marleen Renders (BEL) | 1:10:04 |
| 1997 | Tendai Chimusasa (ZIM) | 1:03:42 | Marleen Renders (BEL) | 1:10:37 |
| 1996 | Charles Tangus (KEN) | 1:02:50 | Ursula Jeitziner (SUI) | 1:11:19 |
| 1995 | Philip Chirchir (KEN) | 1:01:37 | Sonja Krolik (GER) | 1:11:42 |
| 1994 | Tendai Chimusasa (ZIM) | 1:01:45 | Kathrin Weßel (GER) | 1:10:47 |
| 1993 | Carsten Eich (GER) | 1:00:34 | Päivi Tikkanen (FIN) | 1:12:30 |
| 1992 | Stephan Freigang (GER) | 1:01:14 | Maria Starovska (TCH) | 1:12:08 |
| 1991 | Rustam Shagiev (URS) | 1:06:14 | Madina Biktagirova (URS) | 1:11:34 |
| 1990 | Stephan Freigang (GDR) | 1:02:25 | Birgit Stephan (GDR) | 1:14:20 |
| 1989 | Andrzej Nowak (POL) | 1:06:57 | Silvia Wilhelm (FRG) | 1:21:29 |
| 1988 | Ingo Sensburg (FRG) | 1:10:45 | Kerstin Preßler (FRG) | 1:13:05 |
| 1987 | Ingo Sensburg (FRG) | 1:09:43 | Silvia Wilhelm (FRG) | 1:17:19 |
| 1986 | Ingo Sensburg (FRG) | 1:06:33 | Andrea Knapp (FRG) | 1:19:49 |
| 1985 | Ingo Sensburg (FRG) | 1:07:39 | Kerstin Preßler (FRG) | 1:15:44 |
| 1984 | Bernie Dowson (GBR) | 1:06:51 | Angelika Brandt (FRG) | 1:22:45 |

#### Berlin Peace Run (20 kilometer)

| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
| 1989 | Milan Krajč (TCH) | 1:03:10 | Galina Ikonnikowa (URS) | 1:09:12 |
| 1988 | Roland Günther (GDR) | 1:00:23 | Annette Fincke (GDR) | 1:10:03 |
| 1987 | Jörg Peter (GDR) | 1:00:10 | Rosemarie Kössler (GDR) | 1:16:01 |
| 1986 | Jan Marchewka (POL) | 1:02:57 | Jeannette Hain (GDR) | 1:11:09 |
| 1985 | Michael Heilmann (GDR) | 1:00:54 | Galina Ikonnikowa (URS) | 1:10:56 |
| 1984 | Roland Günther (GDR) | 1:00:51 | Galina Ikonnikowa (URS) | 1:08:36 |
| 1983 | Michael Heilmann (GDR) | 1:03:03 | Julia Riethmüller (GDR) | 1:17:11 |
| 1982 | Hartmut Tronnier (GDR) | 1:03:13 | Julia Riethmüller (GDR) | 1:15:46 |

### Inline Skating

| Year | Men's winner | Time | Women's winner | Time |
| 2024 | Nolan Beddiaf (FRA) | 30:13 | Laura Files (GER) | 38:57 |
| 2023 | Felix Rijhnen (GER) | 30:53 | Josie Hofmann (GER) | 36:58 |
| 2022 | Felix Rijhnen (GER) | 33:49 | Josie Hofmann (GER) | 37:53 |
| 2021 | Bart Swings (BEL) | 29:38 | Sandrine Tas (BEL) | 36:12 |
| 2020 | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic | cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |
| 2019 | Nolan Beddiaf (FRA) | 30:41 | Chloé Geoffroy (FRA) | 36:59 |
| 2018 | Sebastian Mirsch (GER) | 32:31 | Katharina Rumpus (GER) | 38:48 |
| 2017 | Ewen Fernandez (FRA) | 30:11 | Katharina Rumpus (GER) | 37:25 |
| 2016 | Gary Hekman (NED) | 30:35 | Sandrine Tas (BEL) | 36:49 |
| 2015 | Felix Rijhnen (GER) | 36:39 | Sabine Berg (GER) | 41:33 |
| 2014 | Felix Rijhnen (GER) | 31:34 | Katharina Rumpus (GER) | 36:46 |
| 2013 | Julien Levrard (FRA) | 32:07 | Katharina Rumpus (GER) | 38:47 |
| 2012 | Bart Swings (BEL) | 30:41 | Cecilia Banea (COL) | 39:29 |
| 2011 | Yann Guyader (FRA) | 30:44 | Mareike Thum (GER) | 37:25 |
| 2010 | Severin Widmer (SUI) | 35:10 | Cecilia Banea (COL) | 43:31 |
| 2009 | Alexis Contin (FRA) | 31:48 | Cecilia Banea (COL) | 38:28 |
| 2008 | Scott Arlidge (NZL) | 34:11 | Hilde Goovaerts (BEL) | 38:16 |
| 2007 | Niclas Kleyling (GER) | 32:08 | Jana Gegner (GER) | 40:02 |
| 2006 | Victor Wilking (GER) | 33:04 | Jana Gegner (GER) | 39:58 |
| 2005 | Sutton Atkins (GBR) | 34:04 | Jana Gegner (GER) | 36:22 |
| 2004 | Jörg Wecke (GER) | 35:37 | Britta Vantournhout (BEL) | 40:21 |
| 2003 | Kalon Dobbin (NZL) | 37:21 | Silvia Niño (COL) | 44:41 |
| 2002 | Kalon Dobbin (NZL) | 35:37 | Silvia Niño (COL) | 35:47 |
| 2001 | Steven Madsen (DEN) | 34:36 | Stephanie Pipke (GER) | 38:35 |
| 2000 | Steven Madsen (DEN) | 36:28 | Severin Stölzer (GER) | 37:04 |
| 1999 | Kalon Dobbin (NZL) | 37:55 | Daniela Dietzold (GER) | 46:40 |
| 1997 | Sebastian Baumgartner (GER) | 44:55 | Tina Pechardscheck (GER) | 51:14 |