In Sunday’s marathon in Berlin, double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge broke his own world record for men. Kenyan runner beat his previous best, which he set four years ago in Berlin, by 30 seconds as he ran two hours, one minute and nine seconds.
NAIROBI, KENYA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — At Sunday’s Berlin marathon, double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge broke his own record for men’s marathons. In a time of two hours, one minute and nine seconds, the 37-year-old Kenyan beat his previous best by 30 seconds, set in the German capital four years ago.
- In his 17 marathon career, the 37-year-old, who has won two Olympic triumphs and 10 major titles, set a blistering pace along the flat, fast inner-city course on an overcast day from the start and set a blistering pace. Together with the pacemakers, only a few runners were able to keep up with Kipchoge.
- After gradually overcoming last year’s winner Guye Adola, Eliud Kipchoge managed to hold off fellow Ethiopian Andamlak Belihu, who sprinted through the half-way point in less than an hour. As Kipchoge pushed on for the record, Belihu finally dropped back around the 27 kilometer mark.
- Despite falling just over a minute short of his world record at the Tokyo Marathon in March, the Kenyan was not to be denied at the Berlin Marathon.
- Mark Korir of Kenya finished fourth, four minutes and 49 seconds behind Kipchoge, while Ethiopian Tadu Abate finished third. Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia set a new course record of 2:15.37 in the women’s race.
In the build-up to the race, Kipchoge had played down his chances of setting a world record. He took 20 seconds off Dennis Kimetto’s 2:02.57 record in Berlin in 2014.
“I am happy with my preparation and I think I was so fast because of the teamwork. Everything is down to teamwork,” Kipchoge told reporters.
“What motivates me is my family and I want to inspire young people. Sport unites people and that is what motivates me.”
During the 26.2-mile race on an overcast Berlin day, Kipchoge, who has won 15 of his 17 career marathons, ran the first half in 59 minutes, 51 seconds, triggering speculation that he may have broken the two-hour barrier.
In 2019, Kipchoge ran a marathon under two hours in Vienna, but it wasn’t recognized as the world record because there was no open competition and a team of pacemakers rotated.
Eliud Kipchoge responded to the question of whether he would attempt a sub-two hour marathon run in Berlin next year: “Let us plan for another day. I will celebrate this record and have to realise what happens. Just roll and see what happens.”
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In response to the question of whether he would run sub-two hours in Berlin next year, Eliud 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.”
The only runner to keep up with Kipchoge was Andamlak Belihu, who set a blistering pace early on but dropped back around 17 miles into the race. This is Kipchoge’s fourth Berlin victory, matching Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie’s record.
Kipchoge’s fellow Kenyan Mark Korir was second, four minutes and 49 seconds behind him, while Ethiopian Tadu Abate was third. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa ran the third fastest time in history by setting a new course record of 2:15.37.
Watch: Berlin marathoner Eliud Kipchoge breaks his own world record
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