Sunday's 24th Bewag Berlin Half-Marathon will include the highest class athletes in the event's history. SCC Running has already received 15,354 registrations from 62 countries for the largest international race over the half marathon distance.

With the anticipated late registrations, the total number of starters is expected to be in the range of last year's event (17,692 participants). "Following the great leaps in development that the Bewag Berlin Half-Marathon experienced in the past years, we are satisfied that we have established this high level," explained Rudiger Otto, the head of SCC Running. With an eye on the elite runners, Race Director Mark Milde said, "If the weather plays along, we hope to have a world class time for the men."

There will be four men with world-class times of under 61- minutes at the start. Among them is last year's champion Paul Kirui (Kenya), who currently holds the world's fastest time of 60:22. Kirui will meet his fellow countrymen Christopher Cheboiboch (60:33), Daniel Rono (60:14) and James Kwambai (60:38) on Sunday. For the women, Magdaline Chemjor, last year's winner, will be at the start with an improved personal best of 69:39.