FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                 New duel between Haile Gebrselassie
           and Sammy Korir at the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON

Defending champion Haile Gebrselassie will face strong opposition at the 
real,- BERLIN-MARATHON on 30th September. There will be another edition of 
the duel between the Ethiopian super star and the second fastest marathon 
runner in the world: Sammy Korir (Kenya) finished second at the real,- 
BERLIN-MARATHON in 2003 with a time of 2:04:56 hours and is therefore 
exactly one minute faster than Haile Gebrselassie. In 2003 Korir finished 
only one second behind Paul Tergat (Kenya). Tergat established a marathon 
world record with a time of 2:04:55 in that race. To break this record is 
Haile Gebrselassie’s goal for Berlin. 

Already last year Gebrselassie and Korir met at the real,- BERLIN MARATHON. 
However the Kenyan had to give up the race after 26 km due to a hamstring 
injury. Sammy Korir didn’t run a marathon in spring and is preparing 
thoroughly for the real,- BERLIN-MARATHON. Last year Korir won the 
Rotterdam Marathon in a world class time of 2:06:38 hours. 

Another former real,- BERLIN MARATHON winner will be joining Gebrselassie: 
Philip Manyim (Kenya) took the race two years ago in 2:07:41 hours. 
Furthermore Joseph Riri (Kenya) will run the race again. He finished second 
two years ago in a great time of 2:06:49 hours. Another Kenyan could be in 
with a surprise: Bernard Barmasai, the former 3000 m steeplechase world 
record holder (7:55,72 minutes / 1997 in Cologne), started his marathon 
career three years ago and so far holds a personal best of 2:08:50 hours. 

More information is available at: www.real-berlin-marathon.com.

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