BERLIN (AFP) – Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa smashed the women’s marathon world record by more than two minutes in Berlin yesterday as Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s race for a record fifth time.
Assefa clocked two hours 11 minutes 53 seconds, more than two minutes ahead of the previous world mark of 2:14:04 set by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei in Chicago in 2019.
“I wanted to break the marathon world record, but I couldn’t imagine that it would result in a time under 2:12,” said the 29-year-old.
“I am very happy.”
She finished almost six minutes ahead of Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui, while Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri finished third, nearly seven minutes behind Assefa.
Assefa broke away early in perfect conditions in the German capital and continued her stunning time to become the first woman to set the world record in Berlin since Japan’s Naoko Takahashi in 2001.
She crossed the line just after men’s world record holder Kipchoge won his race in 2hr 02min 42sec.Kipchoge finished 31sec ahead of countryman Vincent Kipkemoi with Ethiopian Tadese Takele third at 42sec.
Kipchoge’s fifth win takes him past Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie’s four victories but the Kenyan finished outside his previous world record, set last year in Berlin, of 2:01:09.
“Sure, I expected myself to be able to set a world record again, but I can live with the fact that it didn’t work out,” Kipchoge said.
“You can’t do that every day. I hope I can repeat my victory again at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but I would also be happy with the podium.”
Despite doubts after a surprise sixth-place at the Boston Marathon in April, 38-year-old Kipchoge came into the race confident, saying he felt he was “coming home” at a race he has won four times – and set the world record twice.
