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PRESS RELEASE FROM 13. March 2026
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New top athletes, new partnership, new format: GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON continues to grow in its 45th anniversary year
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- Additional top athletes confirmed
- Announcement of a new partnership
- Innovative one-mile running format
- HALFMARATHON EXPO at Tempelhof
- Accreditation and media guide
With more than 40,000 athletes from 134 nations, the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON will celebrate its 45th anniversary on March 28. The organizer, SCC EVENTS, recently announced the elite fields for the race (see press release). In recent days, additional top athletes have confirmed their participation.
Strong competition for Amanal Petros
Kenyan youngster Michael Temoi is now the fastest runner on the start list for the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. The 20-year-old recently sensationally won the Rome–Ostia Half Marathon in his first race over this distance with a time of 58:00 minutes. Since the race follows a point-to-point course, the times are not eligible for official rankings, but that does not diminish Temoi’s performance.
Also new to the Berlin field is one of Europe’s strongest road and track runners: Dominik Lobalu, who holds the Swiss half marathon record with 59:12 minutes. The 27-year-old is the reigning European champion over 10,000 meters and finished fourth in the 5,000 m at the 2024 Olympic Games. In February, Lobalu already ran an excellent half marathon, finishing second in Barcelona in 59:26 minutes.
Germany’s record holder Amanal Petros (Hannover 96) will face another strong competitor at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON: Gideon Kiprotich, who with his personal best of 58:49 minutes is the second-fastest registered runner. A year ago, Petros and Kiprotich already competed against each other at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. On that occasion, Amanal Petros finished third with the German record time of 59:31 minutes, beating Gideon Kiprotich. In the battle for victory on March 29, Bereket Nega (Ethiopia, PB: 60:03) and Benson Kiplangat (Kenya)—the 2024 World Cross Country Championships bronze medalist, who will make his half marathon debut—are also strong contenders.
A total of seven runners from the German elite will start at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. Newly added to the national elite field are Nils Voigt (TV Wattenscheid) and Sam Parsons (SCC Berlin). Voigt already holds a solid personal best of 61:35 minutes. Parsons, who finished sixth in the 5,000 m at the 2022 European Championships in Munich, will make his debut over the “half distance” in Berlin. In addition to Amanal Petros, the German lineup includes Johannes Motschmann (Marathon Team Berlin / 61:03), Simon Boch (61:15), Hendrik Pfeiffer (both Düsseldorf Athletics / 61:28), and Sebastian Hendel (Marathon Team Berlin / 61:52).
European champion Chloe Herbiet confirms participation
There is also a prominent addition to the women’s elite field: reigning European half marathon champion Chloe Herbiet is now on the start list. The Belgian athlete won the title in Leuven in 2025 and has a personal best of 70:04 minutes. Her marathon personal best of 2:20:38 suggests she could significantly improve in Berlin. The favorites include Likina Amebaw (Ethiopia) and Veronica Loleo (Kenya). Amebaw holds a personal best of 64:44 minutes and could challenge the prestigious course record of 63:35. Loleo improved to 65:46 last autumn.
Domenika Mayer (LG Telis Finanz Regensburg) will arrive at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON in excellent form. In February she significantly improved her personal best in Barcelona to 68:08. She hopes to beat that time again on Berlin’s fast course. In the race for the best German placing, there could be an exciting duel with Esther Pfeiffer (Düsseldorf Athletics), who enters with a personal best of 67:28. Other German top runners include Deborah Schöneborn (Marathon Team Berlin / 69:41), steeplechase specialist Gesa Krause (Silvesterlauf Trier / 69:47), Rabea Schöneborn (70:35), Kristina Hendel (70:38 / both Marathon Team Berlin), and Eva Dieterich (LAV Stadtwerke Tübingen / 68:26).
Information about the top athletes and the extended elite fields can also be found in the Media Guide on the website of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON.
Announcement of a new partnership
There have not only been additions among the athletes but also among the partners and sponsors. The Berlin-based company Bett1.de, which offers high-quality mattresses, has been secured as a main sponsor of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON as well as a supporter of the Bambini Run presented by ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg. Fairness, passion, and determination are the core principles of Bett1. The company therefore supports outstanding athletic performance and fair competition—whether as a sponsor of sports clubs or as a host of events. “Sleep and the resulting recovery are essential for achieving personal best performances. We are very excited about our new engagement with the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2026,” says Adam Szpyt, founder of Bett1.de GmbH.
Christian Jost, Managing Director of SCC EVENTS, adds: “The GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON thrives on the energy, enthusiasm, and sense of community of everyone involved—from the participants to our partners. With Bett1.de we have gained a partner who shares these values. Their principles of determination and passion complement our vision of creating unforgettable moments for every participant. We look forward to shaping an event together that makes motivation, joy, and fairness tangible—from the Bambini Run to the finish line after 21.0975 kilometers.”
Garmin BERLIN MILE at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON
Starting this year, a new inclusive running format will be introduced on the day before the race: the Garmin BERLIN MILE at the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON. Covering the classic mile distance of 1.609 kilometers, the course on Saturday will follow the final kilometers of the half marathon route—from the Lustgarten near Berlin Cathedral and the Humboldt Forum, past the State Opera and Humboldt University, to the finish line behind the Brandenburg Gate. This low-threshold event allows young and old, rookies and experienced runners alike to experience the spirit of the finish along the Straße des 17. Juni.
HALFMARATHON EXPO at Tempelhof
This year the HALFMARATHON EXPO will once again take place at Tempelhof Airport. As one of the largest consumer trade fairs dedicated to running, fitness, health, and lifestyle, it offers an ideal platform for companies from the sports goods industry, event organizers, service providers, and sports enthusiasts. Admission to the HALFMARATHON EXPO Berlin is free of charge. To facilitate the collection of race materials, opening hours on Friday have been extended (9:00–20:00), while on Saturday the expo will be open from 9:00–19:00. Participants who book an individual time slot via their user account by March 23, 2026, can reduce waiting times when picking up their race kits.
Opening press conference, accreditation, media guide
Organizer SCC EVENTS invites members of the media to the opening press conference, which will take place on Friday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m. at the partner hotel of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON: Titanic Chaussee Berlin, Chausseestraße 30, 10115 Berlin
Several of the above-mentioned athletes will attend the press conference, as well as SCC EVENTS CEO Jürgen Lock, Race Director Mark Milde, and likely representatives of the title partner Generali as well as officials from the Berlin police, Berlin fire department, and Johanniter emergency services.
Media accreditation for the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON 2026 can be requested until March 28 (10:00 a.m.) exclusively via the online form. Further information is available on our website in the press section. The press conference will be streamed live on the SCC EVENTS YouTube channel, as will the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON on race Sunday starting at 9:45 a.m. The Media Guide, containing extensive information, statistics, athlete profiles, and more, is also available online.
Photo Download and Event History:
- You can find photos of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON here.
- Further information about the history of the GENERALI BERLIN HALF MARATHON can be found here.
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For questions and further information please contact:
Jochen Schmitz
Team Leader Media Relations & Editorial
SCC EVENTS
Tel. +49-173-9721150
medien@scc-events.com
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Besucher- und Lieferanschrift | Visitors' and delivery address
SCC EVENTS GmbH
Olympiapark Berlin
Haus des Deutschen Sports
Adlerplatz 1
14053 Berlin
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Postanschrift | Mailing address
SCC EVENTS GmbH
Olympiapark Berlin
Hanns-Braun-Str. 4
14053 Berlin
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Telefon: 030-301 288 10
Telefax: 030-301 288 20
www.scc-events.com
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Managing Directors: Christian Jost, Jürgen Lock
Register court: AG Charlottenburg
Register number: HRB 20965 B
VAT No.: DE136599588
Responsible for the content according to § 18 Abs. 2 MStV:
Christian Jost, Jürgen Lock
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