BMW Berlin Marathon 1989 ballot: 16th edition, 13,433 finishers
The 16th Berlin Marathon on 1 October 1989 was the last edition run entirely within West Berlin, just five weeks before the Berlin Wall fell on 9 November.
What made 1989 notable
The defining fact of 1989 is what came next. Run on 1 October entirely inside West Berlin, this 16th edition was the last marathon before the Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989. A field of 13,433 finished, 12,233 men and 1,200 women, on a course hemmed in by the divided city. Alfredo Shahanga of Tanzania took the men's title in 2:10:11 and Paivi Tikkanen of Finland won the women's race in 2:28:45. A year later, on 30 September 1990, runners passed through the Brandenburg Gate for the first time, turning Berlin into the symbol of a reunified Germany that it remains today.
Finishers over time
Good-for-age standards
View full age-group standards
| Age group | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 18-34 | 2:45:00 | 3:10:00 |
| 35-39 | 2:45:00 | 3:10:00 |
| 40-44 | 2:45:00 | 3:10:00 |
| 45-49 | 2:55:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 50-54 | 2:55:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 55-59 | 2:55:00 | 3:30:00 |
| 60-64 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 65-69 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 70-74 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 75-79 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 80-84 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 85-89 | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
| 90+ | 3:25:00 | 4:20:00 |
Questions about the 1989 ballot
Why is the 1989 Berlin Marathon historically significant?
It was the last edition run entirely within West Berlin, held on 1 October 1989, just over a month before the Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989.
Who won the 1989 Berlin Marathon?
Alfredo Shahanga of Tanzania won the men's race in 2:10:11. Paivi Tikkanen of Finland won the women's race in 2:28:45.
How many runners finished the 1989 Berlin Marathon?
A total of 13,433 runners finished, made up of 12,233 men and 1,200 women.
Are ballot application numbers public for Berlin in 1989?
No. SCC EVENTS does not publish total entries for this era, only finisher counts and winners.