Double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge produced one of the greatest performances ever witnessed in the history of marathon running to smash his own world record on Sunday, September 25, 2022 at the BMW Berlin Marathon, A World Athletics Platinum Label road race.
The Kaptagat-based athlete crossed the finishing line in 2:01.09 to break the previous record of 2:01.39 he set at the 2018 BMW Berlin Marathon edition.
Kenya’s Mark Korir settled for second in 2:05.58 ahead of Tadu Abate and Belihu who clocked 2:06.28 and 2:06.40 respectively.
Kipchoge started the race on a high, running shoulder to shoulder with a number of elite athletes including the likes of Ethiopian duo of Andamlak Belihu and Adola Guye.
2018 Napoli Half Marathon winner Abel Kipchumba was also among the leading pack. They crossed the 15Km mark in 00:42.33 with Adola starting to struggle to keep up with the electric pace.
Kipchoge did not show any intention of slowing down, he soldier on, running toe to toe with the pace setters. At around the 25Km mark when the pace setters dropped, he took command of the race, opening a wide gap between him and Belihu.
With 10Km remaining to the end of the race, the double Olympic champion was running against the clock since his closest rival was not in sight.
He crossed the 33Km mark in 1:34.17. Behind him, Belihu and Adola were squaring out for the second place finish.
Reacting after the superb performance, a delighted Kipchoge thanked all the athletes who helped him achieve the feat.
"Limits are there to be broken. By you and me together. I can say that I am beyond happy today that the official world record is once again faster. Thank you to all the runners in the world that inspire me every day to push myself," read his statement.
Kipchoge’s win in the streets of the Germany capital ensured he entered into the BMW Berlin Marathon’s record books.
By winning the competitive road race, the Kapsisiywa-born athlete equaled Ethiopian legend’s Haile Gebrselassie’s record of four wins in Berlin.
The father of three adorable children made his Berlin Marathon debut in 2013, settling for a second place finish behind former world record holder Wilson Kipsang. In his maiden outing in Berlin, Eliud finished the race in 02:04.05.
Kipchoge's first win in Berlin came in 2015 when he crossed the finishing line in 2:04.00. Two years later, the marathon world record holder overcame a spirited fight from Adola to bag his second title.
He crossed the finishing line in 2:03.32 ahead of Adola and Geremew Mosinet who clocked 2:03.46 and 2:06.09 respectively.
In 2018, the humble man crossed the finishing line in 2:01.39 to break the previous world record set by compatriot Dennis Kimetto of 2:02.57 in 2014.
The Berlin Marathon has provided a platform for East African athletes to smash the world record at will. Three of the recent world records were set in Berlin and they were all set by Kenyans.
In the women's category, Ethiopia's Tigist Assefa ran away with the title. The 28-year-old won the race in a course record time of 2:15.37 ahead of Kenya's Rosemary Wanjiru.
Wanjiru, who was making her full marathon debut crossed the finishing line in 2:18.00 - the second fastest debut run in history.
