The men’s marathon world record has been broken seven times in Berlin and athletes are targeting fast times once again when the 43rd edition of the BMW Berlin Marathon takes place on Sunday (September 25).
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That was thanks to his compatriot Dennis Kimetto, who still holds the record today, clocking 2:02:57 with the last six world records all set in Berlin.
The race in Berlin is the fourth of this year’s World Marathon Majors – the premier series for the distance.
Bekele’s time was an Ethiopian national record.
Kenyan Kipsang, a former world record holder who won in Berlin three years ago but like Bekele missed last month’s Rio Olympics, could not match the Ethiopian’s pace toward the end and finished nine seconds adrift.
“I am back to the form I was when I set the record on the same Berlin course in 2013”, Kipsang said.
Dennis Kimetto, who holds the world and Chicago Marathon records, has withdrawn from the elite men’s field because of a stress fracture in his left leg, race officials announced Thursday.
Eliud Kipchoge, who is arguably the most dominant marathoner right now- boasting seven wins in eight marathons since 2013 – was out to break Kimetto’s record in Berlin past year but the attempt was thwarted by shoes problem.
Bekele, a triple Olympic gold medallist, has a personal best in the marathon of 2:05:04.
The women’s field is headed by two-time champion Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia, but her compatriots Amane Beriso, Birhane Dibaba and Ruti Aga should prove to be tough challengers.
She will face strong competition, however, from compatriot Birhane Dibaba, the victor of the Tokyo Marathon past year.
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Britain’s Charlotte Purdue, who ran 2:32:48 on her marathon debut in London earlier this year, is also part of the 11-strong elite women’s field, which also features Germany’s Katharina Heinig.
