Kosgei, Masai Win Vattenfall Berlin Half Marathon

Kastor finishes second; sets four U.S. records including half-marathon

BERLIN - (April 2, 2006) - If anyone doubted that Paul Kosgei could regain the top flight as a distance runner, those doubts were removed when the 2002 world champion at the distance won the Vattenfall Berlin Half Marathon on Sunday. Kosgei, who broke the Kenyan record, ran 59 minutes, 7 seconds - 22 seconds ahead of his compatriot Evans Cheruiyot. Only Haile Gebrselassie with 58:55 at Tempe in the USA on January 15 has run faster this year and that performance awaits ratification as a world record. Kosgei also bettered the Berlin course record by 44 seconds.

The women's race delivered just as much food for thought as Kenya's Edith Masai, three times a world cross-country champion and world bronze medalist on the track, beat Deena Kastor of Mammoth Lakes, Calif. by 18 seconds. Both broke the course record of 68:22, setby Joyce Chepchumba of Kenya six years ago: Masai set a personal best with 67:16, the fastest time in the world this year, while Kastor's 67:34 improved her U.S. record by 19 seconds.

Temperatures were hovering around 15 degrees Centigrade as the record entry of 20,419 athletes gathered on the start line on the famous avenue of Unter den Linden in the heart of the city. There was no sign of the showers that had descended on Berlin earlier in the week, but wind was the one problem mentioned by leading runners as the city lived up to its reputation for fast times.

Shortly after 18K, Kosgei staged what proved to be a definitive attack. He went clear to win in 59:07, a personal record with Cheruiyot second in 59:29: "I knew Evans was strong but I was confident when I attacked the third time that I would win. I feel I'm back to my best form after leg injuries last year. Berlin has always been good for me, I set the world record for 25K here in 2004." It also proved good for the runner-up as Cheruiyot improved his personal best by 45 seconds and third placer Wilfred Taragon made a successful debut at the distance in 60:46.

Masai and Kastor went to the start line with identical personal bests: 67:53, but Kastor, the 2004 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, some six minutes faster over the marathon. Masai turned the tables as the lead changed hands, though there was never much between them. With around 45 minutes on the clock, Masai made her move: "I decided to push ahead and kept pushing and found I was going away from Deena."

Her reward was the course record and a PR in 67:16. Kastor, though beaten, had the satisfaction of breaking her national record from September 18 in Philadelphia last year, clocking 67:34. Despite a couple of blisters and a numb spot on her foot, the Team Running USA athlete was very satisfied with a performance that augurs well for the Flora London Marathon on April 23: "London has such a star field, I'm going there to concentrate on the racing and if all goes well, the (fast) time will come." Additionally en route, Kastor set three more pending U.S. records: 12K in 38:24, 10 miles in 51:31 and 20K in 64:07.

Third place went to Kenyan Mary Ptikany in 69:43 while the top German woman was Melanie Kraus, fifth in 73:58. Like Kraus, last year's winner Luminita Zaituc was racing here in preparation for the Metro Düsseldorf Marathon on May 7, but the European marathon silver medalist failed to finish.

26th Vattenfall Berlin Half Marathon
Berlin, GER, Sunday, April 2, 2006

MEN
1) Paul Kosgei, KEN, 59:07
2) Evans Cheruiyot, KEN, 59:29
3) Wilfred Taragon, KEN, 60:46

WOMEN
1) Edith Masai, KEN, 67:16
2) Deena Kastor, USA/CA, 67:34*
3) Mary Ptikany, KEN, 69:43
*pending U.S. record (previous record, 1:07:53, Kastor, Philadelphia, 09/18/05)

More race information at: Berliner-HalbMarathon.de

Source RunningUSA