Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge smashes own world record in Berlin Marathon

BERLIN — Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge bettered his own world record in the Berlin Marathon on Sunday.

The Kenyan star clocked 2 hours, 1 minute, 9 seconds to shave 30 seconds off his previous best mark of 2:01:39 set on the same course in 2018.

“My legs and my body still feel young,” said Kipchoge, 37. “But the most important thing is my mind, and that also feels fresh and young. I’m so happy to break the world record.”

Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa unexpectedly won the women’s race in a course record of 2:15:37 — 18 minutes faster than she had ever run before. It was the third-fastest time ever.

“I wasn’t afraid of my rivals, even though they had faster times than me,” Assefa said.

Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiru was second in her debut in 2:18:00 — the second-fastest debut ever run — just ahead of Ethiopian runner Tigist Abayechew in 2:18:03.

Kipchoge and Assefa’s combined time of 4:16:46 ensured the marathon was the fastest ever. The men’s record has now been set eight times in a row in Berlin, favored by runners for its flat course.

It’s Kipchoge’s fourth win in the city, equaling the record set by Haile Gebrselassie. The Ethiopian great, like Kipchoge now, also set two world records (2007, ’08) in Berlin.

Conditions in the German capital were ideal for fast racing — cool, around 52 degrees after a night of showers, with no more precipitation and no wind. Some 45,527 runners from 157 nations were registered to take part in the first Berlin Marathon without restrictions since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Korir was second, nearly five minutes behind, followed by Ethiopian runner Tadu Abate. Belihu finished fourth in 2:06:40.

ESPN

~WakenyaCanada