Eliud Kipchoge and Gladys Cherono ran the quickest marathon times so far this year to win the BMW Berlin Marathon in 2:04:01 and 2:19:25 respectively.
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Emmanuel Mutai ran 2:03:13 here past year, when he was beaten by Dennis Kimetto’s 2:02:57 – the current world record.
The Berlin marathon offers 40,000 euros ($44,800) for the top spot in the fast-paced competition, with an additional 15,000 euros ($16,800) for making the distance in less than 2:05.
Despite developing problems with his insoles around the 20K mark, Kipchoge finished comfortably ahead of compatriot Eliud Kiptanui in second on 2:05:22 and Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia in third in 2:06:57.
Phillipp Pflieger – one of Germany’s best runners – clocked in at 2:12:50.
The relatively flat course over 42.195 kilometres (26 miles 385 yards) through the centre of Berlin has a reputation for speed and ten world records have fallen in the city – seven in the men’s race and three in the women’s.
Geoffrey Mutai was dropped at around 30km, with Kipchoge, Emmanuel Mutai, Lilesa and Kiptanui passing that point in 1:28:10 before Kipchoge began to make his winning move.
“At some point, the insole came out of my shoe, but I had no time to sort it out and it made things hard as it gave me some pain”, explained Kipchoge.
The victor passed under Berlin’s iconic Brandenburg Gate in Kimetto’s winning time from a year ago, several hundred metres short of the finish line. I’m glad I won and in a personal best.
The time in the German capital took 41 seconds off Weir’s previous best time.
Despite acknowledging that he “could have run faster”, Kipchoge laid no fault with his sponsor for his footwear issues.
“The other runners have more experience of the marathon but I’ve been learning”, Cherono said. I think this shoe is the best shoe ever.
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Kipchoge is running his sixth Berlin marathon and said he’s in “good condition”. “I used the same pair in Kenya and it was good”. The 32-year-old half marathon world champion ran 2:20:03 for second place in her debut in Dubai last January.
