Mueez Ajao
– Double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge has broken his own men’s marathon world record at Sunday’s race in Berlin.
– The 37-year-old Kenyan crossed the line in a time of two hours, one minute and nine seconds, to beat by 30 seconds his previous best, set four years ago in the German capital city.
– He had previously taken one minute 20 seconds off compatriot Dennis Kimetto’s 2014 record of 2:02.57 in Berlin.
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– Kipchoge had played down his chances of a world record in the build up.
𝑾𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑶𝑹𝑳𝑫 𝑹𝑬𝑪𝑶𝑹𝑫!!!! 🐐
Eliud Kipchoge wins the @berlinmarathon in a new World Record of 2:01:09!! 🤯#NNRunningTeam pic.twitter.com/IU5ci5abmM
— NN Running Team (@NNRunningTeam) September 25, 2022
– “I am happy with my preparation and I think I was so fast because of the teamwork. Everything is down to teamwork,” he said.
– “What motivates is my family I and I want to inspire young people. Sport unites people and that is what motivates me.”
– On an overcast day in Berlin, Kipchoge, who has now won 15 of his 17 career marathons, ran the first half of the 26.2-mile race in 59 minutes, 51 seconds, prompting thoughts that he may become the first runner to break the two-hour mark in an official race.
– He has run a marathon in under two hours, in Vienna in 2019. However, that was not recognised as the official world record because it was not in open competition and he used a team of rotating pacemakers.
– When asked whether he would attempt a sub-two hour run in Berlin next year, Kipchoge replied: “Let us plan for another day.
– “I will celebrate this record and have to realise what happens. Just roll and see what happens.”
– Andamlak Belihu was the only runner able to keep up with Kipchoge, who set a blistering pace from the start, but the Ethiopian dropped back around 17 miles into the race.
– It is a fourth victory in Berlin for Kipchoge, matching Ethiopia great Haile Gebrselassie’s record.
– Fellow Kenyan Mark Korir was second, four minutes and 49 seconds behind Kipchoge, with Ethiopian Tadu Abate third.
– In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa ran the third fastest time in history to set a course record of 2:15.37.
