World Leading Times Highlight Berlin Marathon

From Race Organizers

Eliud Kipchoge runs world leading time of 2:04:00 while Gladys Cherono breaks the 2:20 barrier with 2:19:25
A Kenyan double
in a major marathon is hardly unusual but there was a majestic quality
about the manner of victory for both Eliud Kipchoge and Gladys Cherono
on the streets of Berlin in the 42nd edition of the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON. The 30-year-old Kipchoge defied footwear problems to
run a 2:04:00 personal best by five seconds in ideal weather
conditions. He achieved this while both his insoles were flapping
about, half out of his shoes, from kilometre 16, although the runner
himself admitted he had been aware of a problem within the first
kilometre. His fellow Kenyan Eliud Kiptanui achieved a big lifetime
best for second place with 2:05:22 ahead of the Ethiopian Feyisa
Lelisa, who clocked 2:06:57. Gladys Cherono smashed the 2:20 barrier in
only her second marathon, joining the exclusive club of now 18 women
who have achieved this distinction. The Kenyan ran the fastest woman’s
time of the year with 2:19:25 ahead of the Ethiopian duo of the former
Berlin winner Aberu Kebede (2:20:48) and Meseret Hailu (2:24:33).
Taking into account both winning times, this edition of the BMW
BERLIN-MARATHON achieved seventh place in the all-time marathon list
for quality of performance. A grand total of 41,224 runners had
registered for the race.
Men’s Race:
A leading group of six was soon formed with the Kenyans Emmanuel Mutai,
Eliud Kipchoge, Geoffrey Mutai and Eliud Kiptanui prominent along with
the Ethiopians Feyisa Lelisa and Tamirat Tola. As the pacemakers went
about their work in the early stages, the main talking point was the
state of Eliud Kipchoge’s shoes: the bright yellow footwear had
acquired a distinctive and unwanted accessory: both insoles had worked
their way out of the shoes and were flapping around his ankles with
every step.
“It wasn’t a good day for me in these shoes, although they’re actually
very good. I tested them in Kenya but just had bad luck on the day. I
had problems from the first kilometre,‰Û explained Eliud Kipchoge, who
may well have threatened the world and course record of Dennis Kimetto
from last year but for this. Last year Kimetto became the first man to
break 2:03 when he won the Berlin title in 2:02:57.
An attack on the world record began to look out of reach when the lead
group went through halfway in 61:53 since the plan had been for a split
of 61:30. Despite his handicap, Eliud Kipchoge pushed the pace after
David Kogei, the last pacemaker, dropped out at 29 km. Kipchoge’s surge
split the leading group and set up the decisive move when he ran 2:48
for the 32nd kilometre. That took him well clear of his training
partner Emmanuel Mutai. The latter was then overtaken by Eliud Kiptanui
and Feyisa Lelisa and finished fourth in 2:07:46.
“My goal was the world record but it wasn’t to be today. Nevertheless
I’m delighted with this win and a personal best. I would love to return
to Berlin and improve my time,‰Û said Eliud Kipchoge, who finished
second in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON two years ago in what remained his
personal best of 2:04:05 until today. The improvement of five seconds
took him to ninth on the all-time rankings for the fastest marathons.

Women’s winner Gladys cherono (www.photorun.net)