Actually, Dennis Kipkemoi was “only” supposed to take part in the 45th Berlin Half Marathon as a pacesetter. In the end he came second. This immediately raised some questions.
- Kenyan Dennis Kipkemoi was actually only supposed to be the pacemaker in the half marathon
- In the end he came second
- This was not agreed upon, says race director Mark Milde
For a young athlete who is at 45th Berlin Half Marathon Running outside his home country of Kenya for the first time and not even wearing his name on his jersey in this race, Dennis Kipkemoi has become quite well known since this weekend.
The reason for this is as simple as it is unusual. Because Kipkemoi wasn’t actually supposed to finish this race. Rather, he started as a so-called pacemaker. His mission: to set the pace for Amanal Petros, who ultimately came in third, in the first 15 or 16 kilometers. Which is why Kipkemoi’s jersey didn’t have his first name Dennis on it, but rather the word “Pace”. Alone: Instead of quitting the half marathon after successfully working at speed for the new German record holder Petros, Kipkemoi simply kept running – and came second.
Is he allowed to do that, interested observers immediately asked themselves. Yes, says Mark Milde, race director of the organizer SCC Events. But also: “He didn’t stick to the agreements.” Which is why Milde caught up with Kipkemoi in the middle of the race as a passenger on a camera motorcycle and sought a conversation. In an interview with rbb|24, he did not reveal what exactly Milde said to the off-duty pacemaker in these moments. Just this much: “Nobody would have understood telling him at kilometer 18, please stop, you’re going out now. So we basically supported him so that he could go through.”
Observers of the scene, however, describe the basic feeling of this exchange as somewhat tense.
Time is more important than placement
The fact is that Kipkemoi seemed to close the gap that had arisen during the race between his group around Amanal Petros and the eventual winner Andrea Kiptoo relatively effortlessly. So effortlessly that you had to wonder why he didn’t sprint straight to the top. According to race director Mark Milde, “first place isn’t necessarily the most important thing, but rather the time you achieve.” Also to receive invitations to other races around the world. Kipkemoi can now demonstrate this “reference,” as Milde calls it.
He has Amanal Petros and his management to thank for being able to cause so much excitement. The Hannover 96 runner had trained in Kenya in the run-up to the race, including with Kipkemoi. Because the organizers had identified Petros as one of the driving forces for the race, the German runner’s management should organize athletes who could help with this goal. The choice fell on Kipkemoi.
Is it all just an oversight?
In the end, says Mark Milde, he “did his job well”. Amanal Petros broke the hour mark with a new German record. That’s another reason why he doesn’t hold any grudges, says Milde. He would be happy to officially invite Kipkemoi “next time, because it will be cooler for him if he crosses the finish line with his real name.” Of course you will also pay the bonus for second place (2,000 euros). In addition, there is the signing bonus as a pacemaker, in the “low, four-digit range,” as Milde says.
Even Milde can only speculate as to how the man with the name “Pace” on his jersey ended up crossing the finish line against the agreement. It was Kipkemoi’s first time outside Kenya, says Milde, and perhaps “he didn’t really understand everything. And then there was perhaps some uncertainty on his part – how should I behave properly.”
After the race, he spoke to Kipkemoi again, said Milde. The Kenyan was “extremely happy that he was able to run and secure a time of under an hour”. Amanal Petros happily posed for photos with his training and running partner immediately after crossing the finish line. The whole thing could be described as a classic happy ending. Or also: Pace out.
Broadcast: rbb|24, March 30, 2026, 7:50 p.m
Audio: rbb|24, March 30, 2026, Ilja Behnisch
