Amanal Petros runs a German record 59:22 as seven men break the hour at the Berlin Half

The 45th Berlin Half Marathon on Sunday was cold, about 4 C, and fast. Andrea Kiptoo of Kenya won in 59:11, with his countryman and pacemaker Dennis Kipkemoi staying on to finish in the same time. Behind them came the European story.

Amanal Petros was third in 59:22, a German record by nine seconds over his own mark and the fourth-fastest half marathon ever by a European. Dominic Lobalu of Switzerland, 59:23, and France's Etienne Daguinos, 59:27, were fourth and fifth, which puts three Europeans from one race into the continent's all-time top six. Seven men broke an hour.

Likina Amebaw of Ethiopia won the women's race in 1:05:07, the third-fastest time in the event's history, after a lead group that ran even through 10 km and a second half in which she opened a gap and kept it. Kenya's Daisilah Jerono was second in 1:05:21 and Veronica Loleo third in 1:05:35, 28 seconds covering the podium. Rwanda's Florence Niyonkuru was fourth and Esther Pfeiffer the first German in fifth, 1:07:25, a personal best. Chloé Herbiet of Belgium, who won the Gate River Run three weeks earlier, was sixth. The organisers counted six national records across the elite fields.

42,563 runners from 134 nations were registered for the half, 46 percent of them women, up from 39 percent in 2019. A Berlin Mile over 1,609 m ran the day before with more than 3,000 entrants, and runners were asked to leave warm clothing at the start for the city's homeless mission.

Three Europeans under 59:30 in one race in March. The road season in Europe used to start in April. It does not any more.

Sources: Atletica Live; SCC Events (via Endurance.biz).