Record-Breaking Berlin Marathon: Tigist Assefa Shatters Women’s World Record, Eliud Kipchoge Clinches Fifth Win

Record-Breaking Berlin Marathon: Tigist Assefa Shatters Women’s World Record, Eliud Kipchoge Clinches Fifth Win

Epic Berlin Marathon: Assefa Outshines in the Women’s Race

The Berlin Marathon has witnessed yet another historic moment as Ethiopian athlete, Tigist Assefa, shattered the women’s marathon world record. Completing the race in an impressive two hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds, Assefa broke the previous record set by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei by over two minutes. Remarkably, Assefa, a former 800m specialist, only transitioned to marathon running in 2020, making this feat even more significant.

The Ethiopian athlete set a robust pace early on in the race, reaching the halfway point in just over an hour. This is the 13th world record set in Berlin, and Assefa’s second win in the city. Reflecting on her victory, Assefa said, “I am very happy. I wanted to break the marathon world record, but I couldn’t imagine that it would result in a time under 2:12.”

Kipchoge Dominates the Men’s Race

On the men’s front, double Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge secured his fifth Berlin race victory, despite running the slowest marathon of his career. Kipchoge crossed the finish line with a run time of 2:02.42. Although he has run a marathon in under two hours before, it was not officially recognized as it was not in open competition and involved rotating pacemakers.

Despite not breaking his own world record, Kipchoge remained optimistic. He said, “I was expecting to do the same [break the record], but it did not come, that’s how sport is. Every race is a learning lesson. I’ll put all my experience of my 21 marathons into next year in the Olympics in Paris and try to be the first to win for the third time.”

Impressive Records on the Berlin Track

The Berlin Marathon is renowned for its flat roads and optimal weather conditions, making it a favorable location for athletes chasing world records. Assefa’s record-breaking win is the 13th world record to be set in Berlin, where she won last year in 2:15.37 – which at the time was the third fastest women’s run in history. Assefa’s winning time was two minutes and 11 seconds faster than Brigid Kosgei’s previous world record set at the 2019 Chicago Marathon.

On the men’s side, Kipchoge has now run five of the top eight fastest times, emphasizing the high standard of performances at the Berlin Marathon. His victory marked his fifth Berlin Marathon title, solidifying his prowess in the sport.

Looking Ahead: The Race to the Olympics

Both Assefa and Kipchoge are eager to carry this momentum into their future races. Assefa, despite her recent transition to marathon running, has proven her mettle and is likely to be a strong contender in future races. For Kipchoge, his sights are set on the Paris Olympics next year, where he aims to be the first athlete to win three Olympic marathons.

The Berlin Marathon has once again showcased the exceptional talent and determination of athletes in long-distance running. The thrilling performances by Assefa and Kipchoge not only highlight their individual achievements but also the remarkable potential and evolution of marathon running.