Paralympians Excel at Berlin Marathon

This past weekend saw the return of many Paralympic athletes in the competition arena after the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. The 35th Real Berlin Marathon took over the German capital on Sunday, 28 September with a million spectators watching in support.

Winning first place in the 42,195km wheelchair race was well-known Paralympian Heinz Frei. The Swiss native and newly elected member of the IPC Athletes’ Council powered through the course and finished through the Brandenburg Gate with a time of 1:27:53. During the race he had an average speed of 28.81 km/h. Frei continued his competition run after successful results at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Finishing in second place was Masazumi Soejima of Japan with a time of 01:28:39. Soejima’s average speed was 28.56 km/h. Marcel Hug (Switzerland) took the third place in a time of 1:39:01.

Sandra Hager, also from Switzerland, took the first place in the Women’s race with a time of 2:04:18. Following Hager in second place was Inga Orlowski from Germany. Orlowski finished with a time of 2:11:23, and an average speed of 19.27 km/h. Jacqui Kapinowski (USA) came in third with a time of 2:44:25.

The 35th Real Berlin Marathon had a total of 32 Wheelchair racers at the event from all around the world including countries like Korea, Norway, Ireland, USA, Singapore, Sweden, the Netherlands and South Africa.

Furthermore, a total of 128 handbiker competed in Berlin. In the Men’s race, German Bernd Jeffre from Team Otto Bock won in a time of 1:05:44. Elmar Sternath (Austria) and Thomas Lange (Germany) finished second and third.

In the Women’s race, Dorothee Vieth from Germany finished ahead of her Swedish chasers Jessica Hedlund and Monica Säker and won with a time of 1:13:53.