Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge shatters marathon world record in Berlin

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya broke his own marathon world record by winning the Berlin race with a time of 2:01.09, some 30 seconds faster than his previous world best set in the German capital four years ago.

The 37-year-old, who has now won 15 of his 17 career marathons, including two Olympic victories and 10 major titles, was in a class of his own, taking the flat, inner-city fast course as well. Showed speed. Start with a cloudy day.

He gradually shook off last year’s winner Guy Adola but fellow Ethiopian Andamlak Beleho refused to budge, even as he passed the halfway mark in less than an hour.

Beleho finally pulled away around the 27km mark as Kipchoge pushed the record.

The Kenyan, who retained his Olympic title at last year’s Tokyo Games, fell just under a minute short of his world mark at the Tokyo Marathon in March, but was not to be denied in Berlin.

As the sun began to rise in the final 500m sprint through the city’s famous Brandenburg Gate, a beaming Kipchoge crossed the finish line, cementing his status as one of the greatest runners of all time. .

Fellow Kenyan Mark Currier completed a one-two finish for the African nation, four minutes and 49 seconds behind, with Ethiopia’s Tado Abate third.

Ethiopia’s Tugist Asefa won the women’s race in a time of 2:15:37, just ahead of Kenya’s Rosemary Wanjiro and her compatriot Tugist Abachio.