Berlin Marathon: Kimeto breaks world record, Tsegaye wins women’s title

Berlin, Germany – Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto broke the men’s marathon world record at the BMW Berlin Marathon here today with a time of 2:02:57, while Tirfi Tsegaye of Ethiopia won the women’s title.

Kimetto’s time took 26 seconds off the previous mark, set in the same race last year by Wilson Kipsang.

He covered the first half in 1:01:45 and increased his pace in the second half with a closing 13.1 miles of 1:01:12. He shook off Mutai, his last remaining challenger, with just under five kilometres to go.

In second place, fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai was also inside the previous world record with his time of 2:03:13. Ethiopia’s Abera Kuma was a distant third in 2:05:56.

Women’s Category

While Kenyans took the top two spots in the men’s race, there was  Ethiopian success in the women’s race with Tirfi Tsegaye winning in 2:20:18 from compatriot Feyse Tadesse, who clocked 2:20:27. USA’s Shalane Flanagan was third in 2:21:14.

Read more at: IAAF.org