22. PHILIPS PILA/Poland Halfmarathon on 9. September 2012 – A journey back in the past – By John Kunkeler

That's how it felt for uns nearly 40 years of organisation tasks for the Berlin-Marathon and other races in Berlin. On sept 9th in PILA/Poland the Polish Championships were held over the half marathon dictance.

Organized as an open popular races (2.500 participants) under control of the Polish Federation. It was started at 11.00 h under excellent circumstances, sunshine, 20 degrees, practically no wind.

PILA (formerly Schneidemühl), a lovely little city with several parks and fresh painted buildings and only very few traces of architecture from the moving past.

The Polish runners were practically among themselves. Only 4 runners from Kenia, 2 top athletes from Bjelorussia gave this race a little bit of international flair.

Sponsered by PHLIPS and ASICS this race definitely has a future.

In the ninetees very good Polish runners came to Germany, especially to Berlin, to show their abilities.

For those German runners who prefer the familiar atmosphere of small races above the stress of big city races, the PHILIPS PILA half marathon is a true recommendation.

Race Director Henryk Pascal (former good runner with a p.b. 2:16:00) inspires like no other his volunteer team has a very good contact to the Polish elite runners.

He composed an expert team of former top athletes who gave this event a unique flair.

 

John Kunkeler (and Horst Milde)

 

PILA Halfmarathon

 

City of PILA

 

 

Results:

 

22. PHILIPS PILA/Poland  Halfmarathon on 9. September 2012 – Start 11.00 Uhr

 

Men:

1. Boniface Nduwa (KEN) 1:03:31
2. Arkadius Gardzielewski (POL) 1:04:04 (Polish Champion)
3. Marcin Blazinski (POL) 1:04:21
4. Maksim Pankratan (POL) 1:05:03
5. Damian Kabat (POL) 1:06:29
6. Artur Kern (POL) 1:06:35
7. Blazej Brzezinski (POL) 1:07:46
8. Przemyslaw Dabrowski (POL) 1:11:26
9.  Robert Celinski (POL) 1:11:41
10. Dariusz Laksa (POL) 1:12:27

 

Women:

1. Maryna Damantsevich (Bjelorussia) 1:14:12
2. Katarzyna Durak (POL) 1:16:01
3. Betty Chepleting (KEN) 1:18:45
4. Ola Jakubczak (POL) 1:20:02
5. Winny Jepkorir (KEN) 1:21:25
6. Andzelika Dzegiel (POL) 1:22:09
7. Dagmara Dziuk (POL) 1:24:55
8. Weronika Wojcik (POL) 1:25:39
9. Malgorzata Sobanska (POL) 1:28:22
10. Magdalena Mielnik (POL) 1:30:03