Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto has broken the marathon world record in Berlin, winning the race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds.
The 30-year-old shook off fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai with just under three miles remaining to become the first man to run a marathon in less than two hours and three minutes.
Mutai, who finished second in 2:03:13, also broke the previous record.
“I feel good because I won a very tough race,” said Kimetto.
“I felt good from the start and in the last few miles I felt I could do it and break the record.”
|
Men’s marathon world record decade-by-decade |
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|
Year |
Time |
Athlete |
Course |
|
1947 |
2:25.39 |
Suh Yun-bok (Korea) |
Boston |
|
1958 |
2:15.17 |
Sergei Popov (Soviet Union) |
Stockholm |
|
1969 |
2:08.33 |
Derek Clayton (Australia) |
Antwerp |
|
1988 |
2:06.50 |
Belayneh Dinsamo (Ethiopia) |
Rotterdam |
|
1999 |
2:05.42 |
Khalid Khannouchi (Morocco) |
Chicago |
|
2008 |
2:03.59 |
Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) |
Berlin |
|
2014 |
2:02.57 |
Dennis Kimetto (Kenya) |
Berlin |
The previous world record had been set on the same course 12 months ago by Kimetto’s compatriot Wilson Kipsang, who ran 2:03:23.
Kimetto, who won marathons in Tokyo and Boston last year, had promised to attack the record in Berlin if conditions allowed.
And in weather perfect for long-distance running, with temperatures around eight degrees centigrade, Kimetto kept his promise, staying in the lead group throughout and sprinting to victory and a new world’s best time.
Mutai, meanwhile, believes a two-hour marathon is possible.
“From what I saw today, times are coming down and down. So if not today, then tomorrow,” the 29-year-old Kenyan said. “Maybe next time we’ll get 2:01.”
Mutai had run the fastest marathon in history in 2:03:02 in Boston in 2011, but it did not count as a world record because the course is considered too straight and downhill.
