The 31st edition of Germany's oldest major city road race, BIG 25 Berlin, should again produced very good times on Sunday May 8 after organisers confirmed the participation of two top Kenyan runners - William Kipsang and Filomena Chepchirchir.
Kipsang is the winner of the Rotterdam Marathon 2008 with 2:05:49. Whilst the 33-year-old will run his first 25K race, Chepchirchir has quite some experience at the distance.
In 2007 she won the BIG 25 Berlin in 1:25:38. One year later she improved to 1:24:55 but this time this was only good enough for second place.
The 29 year-old recently showed good form, when she took the Den Hague half marathon in 69:06. On Sunday she wants to be first again to cross the finish line inside the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
The BIG 25 Berlin road race will receive a unique award from the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) shortly after the event.
After both world records were broken in the traditional 25K race through the German capital in 2010 AIMS board members decided during their recent meeting in Belgrade to honour this achievement.
"We are proud that AIMS honours our double world record. This marks the significance of the performances. For us it is also an additional motivation to further develop this traditional race," said Gerhard Janetzky, the Race Director of the BIG 25 Berlin.
Never before had two world records been broken in any road race. While Kenya's Sammy Kosgei clocked 1:11:50 his fellow countrywoman Mary Keitany finished with the first sub 1:20 time ever (1:19:53).
Organisers again expect a top field to compete while around 10,000 runners will take part in the mass races with distances of 25K, 10K and a 5x5K relay.