Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya crosses the line to win the Berlin Marathon at 2:01:09 in Berlin, Germany, September 25, 2022. /CFP
Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya set the new marathon world record with a time of 2:01:09 in the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, breaking the previous record of 2:01:39 he set in Berlin in 2018.
This was the 15th win of 37-year-old Kipchoge, who has participated in 17 marathons in his career. He finished the first half in 59:51 and the second half at 61:18. His compatriot Mark Korir was the runner-up after running 2:05:58 in the race. Tadu Abate of Ethiopia finished third in 2:06:28.
"No limitations, after 38k I knew I would be capable of breaking the world record. Circumstances were great, and so was the organization of the event. Let us plan (a sub-two-hour attempt) for another day. I will celebrate this record and have to realize what happens. Just roll and see what happens," Kipchoge said.
Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya (R) and Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia pose for photos after winning the men's and women's races, respectively, at the Berlin Marathon, Berlin, Germany, September 25, 2022. /CFP
Having won two Olympic marathon gold medals, Kipchoge is likely to go for the third at the Paris Olympics in 2024. He has also won four of the six world marathon majors – Tokyo, London, Berlin and Chicago – missing only Boston and New York City.
Berlin witnessed all of the previous moments when the men's marathon world record was broken. Paul Tergat of Kenya did it for the first time in 2003 when he broke 2:05. Kipchoge set the former record of 2:01:39 in 2018 and then broke it again on Sunday.
In the women's race, Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia won the gold medal after finishing the race in 2:15:37, which was the third-best performance in history, behind 2:14:14 of Kenya's Brigid Kosgei and 2:15:25 of Britain's Paula Radcliffe.