Simply breathtaking!
Yesterday was the crowning moment for Kenyan marathon runner Wilson Kipsang who finally broke the Marathon World record after coming agonisingly close for two years.
A jubilant Kipsang clocked 2:03:23 at the BMW Berlin Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.
Kipsang, 31, took 15 seconds off his compatriot Patrick Makau’s mark of 2:03:38, set in the same race two years ago.
Makau was not competing in the event after withdrawing two weeks ago with a knee injury.
Barely a month after Makau set Berlin’s seventh World record; Kipsang won the 2011 Frankfurt Marathon in 2:03:42.
He went on to win the London Marathon in 2012, but finished third at the London 2012 Olympic Games three months later.
With four-time Berlin Marathon winner, and twice World record setter, Haile Gebrselassie sending the field on its way on a bright sunny morning, with temperatures at an almost perfect 8 degrees Celsius at the start rising to 13 degrees Celsius, it was quickly apparent that Makau’s record was under threat.
The leaders went through halfway in 1:01.32 – Kipsang had targeted 1:01.45 – before he, Kipchoge and Geoffrey Kipsang began to pull away.
The trio passed through 35km in 1:42.36, some 20 seconds off Makau’s 2011 pace but Kipsang had plenty in reserve and slowly pulled clear.
He passed through the 40km mark in 1:57.12 – three seconds faster than Makau – and continued to press home his advantage.
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Having trained specifically for breaking the world record in Berlin, Kipsang took control of the race in the final 10km, breaking away from the leading pack as the tempo dropped.
His victory takes his total marathon wins to seven since competing in his first in Paris three years ago.
This is the ninth time a world record has been set on Berlin’s notoriously flat streets and five men’s world records have been set in the German city in the past decade alone.
“I was feeling strong so I decided to push.
“I’m very happy that I’ve won and at breaking the World record.
“This is a dream come true; 10 years ago, I watched Paul Tergat break the World record in Berlin, and now I have achieved the dream. I felt strong, so I attacked at 35k, because the pace had become a little too slow.” said Kipsang.
Fellow Kenyan and 2003 World 5000m champion, Eliud Kipchoge finished second in 2:04:05, improving his best by more than a minute.
Another Kenyan, Geoffrey Kipsang (no relation) finished third in 2:06:26.
Kenya’s dominance stretched to the women’s race as well with Kenyan ladies also finishing first and second with Florence Kiplagat fulfilling her role as favourite and winning in 2:21:13 with Sharon Cherop second with 2:22:28.
“I felt strong in the first half of the race, but then I started getting problems with my right foot, I had a blister which forced me to slow down. I found the weather conditions harder than two years ago here, but I’m still very happy,” said the women’s winner.
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