BERLIN
Kenya's
Wilson Kipsang admitted he was delighted to break the marathon world
record in Berlin on Sunday in a new official best time of 2hrs 3 mins
and 23 seconds.
Kispang, 31, shaved 15 seconds off the
previous world record set by compatriot Patrick Makau, who ran 2:03.38
over 42.195 kilometres (26.2miles) in the German capital two years ago.
Having said in the build up that he was running to break the world record in Berlin, Kipsang was true to his word.
"I
think in the last few kilometres I had the feeling it was on and I was
feeling strong," said Kipsang, who collected the winner's cheque of
40,000 euros (US$54,068) with a 50,000 euros bonus for the world record.
"My plan was to really push in the last few kilometres, I knew it would be a fight.
"I just wanted to make sure we had a good pace at the start and I knew the record was beatable.
"It was my first time racing here, it's a really nice course and a great city. I love it here!"
NINE RECORDS SET
Kenya's
Eliud Kipchoge, who won the Hamburg marathon in April on his debut over
the distance, finished second in a personal best time of 2:04.05 with
compatriot Geoffrey Kipsang third with 2:06.26.
This is
the ninth time a world record has been set in Berlin and five men's
world records have been set here in the last decade alone.
Makau was missing in the German capital having withdrawn a fortnight ago with a knee injury.
The
women's race was won by Kenya's Florence Kiplagat, the 2011 Berlin
winner, in an official time of 2hrs 21mins 13secs, six minutes off Paula
Radcliffe's world record set ten years ago in London.
Germany's Irina Mikitenko finished third to break the world masters record for the over 40s, in a time of 2:24.54.
Having
trained specifically to break the world record here, Kipsang, the
Olympic bronze medallist, broke away from the leading pack in the final
10 kilometres and ran his own race, chased by Kipchoge.
The
elite group had been on world record pace up until the 29km, but when
the tempo dropped, Kipsang took matters into his own hands and was three
seconds under the necessary pace in the final two kilometres.
Having
run a previous personal best in 2011 when he went within Makau's
previous world record in Frankfurt, Kipsang added the Berlin title to
his CV having won the London marathon in 2012.
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