Berlin show whets Kenya's super Sunday

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge celebrates after winning the 2022 Berlin Marathon in Berlin. [File] 

The fierce battle at the 49th Berlin Marathon this morning sets the adrenaline pulse racing today.

Families, coaches and fans of Kenyans competing in the Berlin Marathon will be glued to TV sets from 10am.

Excitement and expectation among fans is high as two men's favourite stars –Eliud Kipchoge and Amos Kipruto –get down to chase for the world record and battle for pride for Nandi County where they hail from. Kipchoge comes from Kapsisywa village while Kipruto comes from the Eastview area near Kapsabet less than 15 kilometres from Kipchoge’s home.

For athletics enthusiasts in Nandi County, which prides itself as the Source of Champions, pride will swell in their hearts as tears well in their eyes.

Uasin Gishu leadership will join fans following the action in LED big screens in Eldoret town.

Excitement will further narrow down to the rural home of Sheila Chepkirui in Kipchichim village in Kericho County.

Another battle looms in Berlin today. There is a battle between two brands –Nike and Adidas, the two leading sports apparels. Nike kits Kipchoge and a majority of the Kenyans in the lineup while Adidas kits Amos Kipruto.

Meanwhile, a unique artwork was unveiled at the clubhouse of Berlin-based running club on Thursday. It’s located at Wassertorstrasse 11 in Berlin.

The street art, showing marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge in full stride, highlights the return of the double Olympic champion to the city, where he will run the Berlin Marathon today.

The piece was produced by Dutch artist collective Kamp Seedorf in collaboration with Kipchoge’s professional running group the NN Running Team and the team’s management Global Sports Communication.

At the Berlin Marathon, part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, Kipchoge is currently tied at four titles with Ethiopia's marathon great Haile Gebrselassie, who claimed the Berlin Marathon for four consecutive years between 2006 and 2009.

Kipchoge captured the Berlin marathon title in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022, also setting a world record in 2018 and 2022. His victory last year improved his own world record by 30 seconds finishing in an unprecedented 2:01:09 over the classic distance.