Top favorite Kenenisa Bekele has won the 46th Berlin Marathon over 42.195 kilometers in 2:01:41 hours. The Ethiopian thus remained only two seconds above the previous year in self-erected world record of Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who had not started this year. Second place went to Bekeles countryman Birhanu Legese (2:02:48). Sisay Lemma (2:03:36) made the Ethiopian triple success perfect.
Bekele could not be happy, though. I am not happy about that, "said the 37-year-old, who had been lying down due to muscle problems in the meantime:" I'm happy about a personal best, but I know that I have the I can not reach world record, I will not give up. "
The result for the women gave an Ethiopian double victory. Ashete Bekere won in 2:20:14 hours ahead of Mare Dibaba, also from Ethiopia, who was seven seconds slower. In third place was the Kenyan Sally Chepyego in 2:21:06 hours.
The starting for Germany Melat Kejeta secured in 2:23:58 hours in their first marathon equal to the Olympic participation in 2020 in Tokyo. Philipp Pflieger, however, had to give up and thus missed the qualification for the Olympics 2020. An injury stopped the 32-year-old long-distance specialists.
The starting signal at 9:15 am was traditionally given by Berlin's Mayor Michael Müller. Overall, according to the organizer 46,983 runners on the track. The competition has been broadcast in 130 countries worldwide.