RUNNING GERMANY: BERLIN – Aselefech Mergia out off BERLIN HALFMARATHON. Tadelech Bekele replacing her as a top contender

Aselefech Mergia has dropped out  of the women´s  elite field at the BERLIN HALFMARATHON due to a cold. New in the field is another Ethiopian runner, Tadelech Bekele (22), who has clocked 1:08:38 for third place at the Valencia halfmarathon 2013.

She will be the main contender of Sabrina Mockenhaupt of Germany who most recently placed 7th in the 2013 New York City Marathon (halfmarathon pb 1:08:45). With a personal best of 30:38 for 10 k which she clocked last October in Berlin, Tadelech Bekele should be able to run faster than 1:08 on a good day.

On the men's side Leonard Komon of Kenya  is one of the top contenders on the flat and fast course through the German capital.

The world record holder for 10 k and 15 k will run his first halfmarathon next Sunday.

There is a livestream of the race on the website lasting from 9.15 am until 2 pm.

Source: Halfmarathon Berlin