Eliud Kipchoge, Gladys Cherono win personal best in Berlin Marathon
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge (right) and Kenya's Gladys Cherono pose with their medals and wave Kenyan flags after the 42nd Berlin Marathon on September 27, 2015. Eliud Kipchoge failed in his bid to set a third straight world record at the Berlin marathon on Sunday after winning in an unofficial time of two hours, 04.01 minutes. AFP PHOTO | JOHN MACDOUGALL
What you need to know:
- It’s on his first show at the 2013 Berlin Marathon where Kipchoge, 30, set personal best 2:04:05, behind Wilson Kipsang who broke the World Record in 2:03:23.
- Kipchoge passed the 40km mark in 1:57.29 after breaking away from the forest of legs at the 32km mark.
- Kipchoge, Emmanuel Mutai, Geoffrey Mutai, Eliud Kiptanui, Feyisa Lilesa, and Tamirat Tola formed the first group behind three pacers as they passed 15 km in 43:53.
Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge and Gladys Cherono swept to their maiden Berlin Marathon victories in personal best times on Sunday in Germany.
Making his second appearance in Berlin, Kipchoge, who won the London Marathon six months ago, triumphed in 2 hours, 04 minutes and 01 seconds for his fifth career marathon victory.
It was joy for Cherono who secured her first marathon victory in 2:19:25 on her second appearance over the distance.
Cherono had just made her debut in marathon in January in Dubai where she finished second in 2:20:03.
It’s on his first show at the 2013 Berlin Marathon where Kipchoge, 30, set personal best 2:04:05, behind Wilson Kipsang who broke the World Record in 2:03:23.
Sunday, Kipchoge, who passed the 40km mark in 1:57.29 after breaking away from the forest of legs at the 32km mark, braved a problematic insoles to beat compatriot Eliud Kiptanui to second place but also in personal best 2:05:22. Ethiopian Feyisa Lilesa came in third in 2:06:57.
“I am happy to win on my second appearance on the Germany spoil with personal best…the Berlin roads seem to be loving me,” Kipchoge said.
“I started to have problems with insoles with only 1 km into the race and that reduced a lot of time.”
BROKE AT 30KM MARK
Kipchoge said he decided to break at the 30km mark.
“I still felt strong despite the problematic shoes but I hope to return next year and this time around for the World Record,” said Kipchoge, who won with the fifth fastest time ever.
He becomes the 15th Kenyan to win the men’s race.
Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto set a new World Record time of 2:02:57 at the same course in 2014.
Kipchoge, Emmanuel Mutai, Geoffrey Mutai, Eliud Kiptanui, Feyisa Lilesa, and Tamirat Tola formed the first group behind three pacers as they passed 15 km in 43:53.
SHOES PROBLEM
Kipchoge had a problem with his shoes as both the insoles come off.
However, they passed half marathon mark at 61:53 and the 25km at 1:13:24.
Despite his problems Kipchoge led the group together with Emmanuel Mutai as Geoffrey Mutai lost ground.
Kipchoge and Emmanuel passed 30 km in 1:28:10 as the rest followed.
Cherono, the 2013 World 10,000m silver medallist passed the 40km mark in 2:13:20 before winning with a time that placed her among 18 women to run under 2:20.
She becomes the second Kenyan to win in Berlin after Tegla Loroupe (1999-2:20:43 WR) and Florence Kiplagat (2011, 2013).
“I had a chance for the course record but the pacesetters were slow.
“I also decided to push alone after the rest stayed behind,” said Cherono, who now wants to plan on how to break the World record of 2:15:25 currently held by Paula Radcliffe.
