Status: 24/09/2023, 12:31 p.m.
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Tigst Assefa (front, 3rd from left) from Ethiopia runs at kilometre ten on Torstraße at the BMW Berlin Marathon. © Annette Riedl/dpa
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa pulverizes the marathon world record in Berlin. In Eliud Kipchoge's next victory, Amanal Petro's German record runs. An attempt to interfere is mild.
Berlin - Ethiopian Tigst Assefa has run to a fabulous world record in the marathon in Berlin. Last year's 29-year-old winner won on Sunday in 2:11:53 hours, more than two minutes below Brigid Kosgei's previous record. The Kenyan ran 2019:2:14 hours in Chicago in 04.
Assefa had set the Berlin course record last year to 2:15:37 hours and had thus advanced into the world elite over the 42.195 kilometers. Also supported by modern shoe technology, this time she ran on course for a record right from the start in perfect external conditions and pulled away early in a race that was also super-fast across the board.
With an initial temperature of 14 degrees Celsius and later sunny skies, the favourite seemed relaxed at all times on the flat capital circuit and was even able to sprint at the end. The last women's world record in Berlin was set in 2001 by Japan's Naoko Takahashi, who was the first athlete to break under 22:2 hours 19 years ago in 46:2.20 hours.
Eliud Kipchoge was the first runner to win the Berlin Marathon for the fifth time, but missed another world record by a wide margin. The 38-year-old Kenyan won in 2:02:42 hours ahead of his compatriot Vincent Kipkemoi and Ethiopian Tadese Takele. Kipkemoi crossed the finish line in 2:03:13 hours, Takele ran 2:03:24 hours. Amanal Petros beat his German record in ninth place in 2:04:58 hours. The 28-year-old had run the 42.195 kilometres in Valencia on 5 December 2021 in 2:06:27.
Last year, Kipchoge set the valid world record in 2:01:09 hours. Initially, the two-time Olympic champion was again on course for a record, but was unable to maintain the high pace in perfect running conditions.
At least he saved the success from the approaching pursuers to the finish line and no longer has to share the number for the most victories in the German capital with Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie. Shortly before the start of the race, activists from the climate protection group Letzte Generation had tried to block the Straße des 17. The group then claimed responsibility for the interference attempt on the platform, formerly Twitter. Dpa
