On September 27, 2026, the Berlin Marathon will gun off. The updated elite entry list shows He Jie and Zhang Deshun lining up together on this famously fast course. Japan has also entered 10 men’s elites and 4 women’s elites — a China–Japan showdown is about to unfold, and this year’s Berlin promises plenty of storylines! Japan’s men’s elite athletes (10): Kenya Sonota, Tsubasa Ichiyama, Kiyoto Hirabayashi, Yuhei Urano, Hidekazu Hijikata, Yusuke Nishiyama, Naoki Koyama, Kazuya Nishiyama, Daisuke Uekado, Shin Kimura. The women’s elite field includes Rika Kaseda, Mao Uesugi, Natsuki Omori and Rino Goshima. In this round of the elite list, China has only one male entrant — He Jie — and likewise only one female entrant — Zhang Deshun. In Berlin 2022 He Jie and Kenya Sonota met for the first time: He Jie ran 2:11:18 to finish 16th, while Kenya Sonota ran 2:07:14 for seventh. This will be their rematch in Berlin. That year Eliud Kipchoge broke the world record for the second time; this season the two of them might again witness history and perhaps a new record. Looking at PBs, Kenya Sonota has gone under 2:06, and there are eight other Japanese elites with sub‑2:06 PBs — overall the Japanese men look strong on paper. However, at Tokyo 2025 He Jie raced alongside Kenya Sonota, Tsubasa Ichiyama, Yuhei Urano and Shin Kimura; He Jie ran 2:07:20, ahead of Sonota (2:08:14) and Shin Kimura (2:10:13). In this year’s Seoul, He Jie (2:08:15) also finished ahead of Daisuke Uekado (2:09:03). So, marathon racing has never been decided by paper results alone. Zhang Deshun now holds China’s women’s 10 km road record and the women’s half‑marathon national record. At Tokyo 2025 she edged closer to the Chinese women’s marathon record — Berlin could well be her best chance to go after a new national mark. Also on the start list is Kenya’s Sebastian Sawe, returning to Berlin carrying a new marathon world record — he won here last year in 2:02:16. Worth noting: Sawe remains unbeaten in his marathon career so far, four races and four wins. Can that perfect record be broken in Berlin? Ethiopia has as many as nine men’s elites entered this time, plus Tanzania’s Gabriel Geay is looming — who among them can challenge Sawe’s throne? Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa, who ran 2:11:53 to break the world record in Berlin 2023 and then set a 2:15:41 women‑only marathon world best at the 2026 London Marathon, returns to Berlin — will Assefa target dipping under 2:10? Defending champion Rosemary Wanjiru, despite running only 2:21:05 in hot conditions last year, remains a sub‑2:16 athlete and cannot be overlooked. With the likes of Bedatu Hirpa, Dera Dida and other Ethiopian contenders, the women’s title is far from decided. See you on the course on September 27. #2026 Berlin Marathon #marathon #He Jie #Zhang Deshun #TrailRunningBigBang