Without Haile Gebrselassie chasing the world record this year, the field for tomorrow’s Berlin Marathon will have a different look as the next crop of stars do battle on the famously fast course.

The Berlin race is known for producing fast times but with Gebrselassie opting to race in New York on November 7, the door is open for others to try and beat their personal bests.

The 37-year-old Ethiopian set the world record of 2:03.59 in Berlin two years ago, but three of this year’s field have gone below 2:06.

The 2010 favourite is Kenya’s Patrick Makau who clocked this year’s fastest time in the world of 2:04.48 when he won the Rotterdam Marathon. Compatriot Geoffrey Mutai will be hard on his heels having run 2:04:55, also in Rotterdam.

Both runners are well-versed with the flat and fast course in the German capital and hope for favourable weather conditions.

Makau knows Berlin’s streets well after winning the half marathon in 2007, when he clocked a personal best, and again in 2008.

Also figuring in the lead mix will be Kenya’s Eliud Kiptanui.

The 21-year-old was set to compete in April’s Vienna Marathon but had his travel disrupted by the Icelandic volcano eruption.

He opted instead for Prague three weeks later, and won in a course-record 2:05:39.

The women’s race will also be devoid of its biggest drawcard with Germany’s Irina Mikitenko, the 2008 winner, opting to run the Chicago marathon, but German Sabrina Mockenhaupt will be carrying her country’s hopes.

The 29-year-old ran her marathon personal best when she won the 2008 Frankfurt Marathon in 2:26.22.