KLEINMACHNOW, 9 November 2026. Eighty students from BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School ran the final 4.2195 kilometres of the Berlin Marathon route at the 2026 mini-MARATHON, and Grade 9 student Neo finished third out of approximately 12,000 runners, completing the course in 15 minutes and 13 seconds.
Wearing their yellow #BBISactive T-shirts, the BBIS runners took to the streets of Berlin alongside thousands of students from schools across Berlin and Brandenburg. It was a wonderful day of running, encouragement and community spirit, with families, friends and staff cheering the runners on.
For the BBIS community, the day was about much more than crossing the finish line. Whether they were running alongside friends, cheering from the sidelines or celebrating at the finish line, everyone played a part in making the day special.
The day also brought an outstanding individual achievement. Neo trains four to five times a week with Berliner SC and also runs for the BBIS Panthers cross-country team, while still finding time for friends and other sports.
His next goal is to qualify for the German national athletics squad, the Bundeskader, and his longer-term dream is to compete at the Olympic Games one day.
“It was about coming together, supporting one another and sharing an experience beyond the classroom.”
BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School
While Neo's performance was a particular highlight, the day was a celebration of all 80 BBIS runners, each of whom contributed to a memorable experience for the school community. BBIS congratulated every runner and thanked everyone who came along to support them.
About BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School
BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School is an international day and boarding school in Kleinmachnow, Brandenburg. It offers three International Baccalaureate programmes, the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, to students from over 60 countries, with English as the language of instruction.
Each year the school welcomes around 800 day students and around 50 boarding students aged 3 to 19. Children aged 3 to 6 and pupils in Grades 1 to 5 follow the Primary Years Programme, while secondary students take the Middle Years Programme and then the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12. Classes usually have fewer than 20 students, and its modern, well-equipped classrooms are spread across five buildings. Beyond the classroom, students can choose from a wide range of extra-curricular activities, from sports to the arts.
What this means for families
For families in Berlin and Brandenburg, the mini-MARATHON shows how sport and community fit into school life at BBIS: 80 students took part, families and staff turned out to support them, and students who enjoy running can also compete for the school in the BBIS Panthers cross-country team. For parents weighing up a move, it is a concrete picture of what school life looks like beyond lessons.
Families comparing schools in the region can see where BBIS stands in the International School Advisor ranking of the best international schools in Berlin.
You can contact BBIS Berlin Brandenburg International School here.
