Kipchoge wins Berlin Marathon

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge celebrates after winning in the 42nd Berlin Marathon on September 27, 2015. Kipchoge, who won the London Marathon six months ago, triumphed in 2 hours, 04 minutes and 01 seconds, beating his previous personal best by four seconds for his fifth career marathon victory. PHOTO | JOHN MACDOUGALL | AFP

By  AYUMBA AYODI

What you need to know:

  • Kipchoge, who won the London Marathon six months ago, triumphed in 2 hours, 04 minutes and 01 seconds, beating his previous personal best by four seconds for his fifth career marathon victory.
  • Kipchoge becomes the 15th Kenyan to win the men’s race in Berlin.
  • Kipchoge had a problem with his shoes when both insoles came off. However, they passed half marathon mark at 61:53.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge and Gladys Cherono Sunday claimed their maiden victories in Berlin Marathon in personal best and world-leading times.

Kipchoge, who won the London Marathon six months ago, triumphed in 2 hours, 04 minutes and 01 seconds, beating his previous personal best by four 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 made her debut in marathon in January in Dubai where she finished second in 2:20:03.

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Kipchoge and Cherono will each receive Sh7.9m (around 50,000 Euros or $79,000) for their exploits.

Kipchoge, 30, set personal best 2:04:05 when he finished second behind Wilson Kipsang who broke the World Record in 2:03:23 at the 2013 Berlin Marathon.

INSOLES COMING OFF

He had just made his maiden appearance over the distance with victory in 2013 Hamburg Marathon. On Sunday, Kipchoge, who passed the 40km mark in 1:57.29 after breaking away at the 32km mark, braved a problematic insoles to beat compatriot Eliud Kiptanui to second place 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 in Germany 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 greatly slowed me down.”

Kipchoge said he decided to break at the 30km mark. “I still felt strong despite the insoles coming off but I hope to return next year this time around for the World Record,” vowed Kipchoge, who won with the fifth fastest time ever.

STELLA PERFORMANCE

Kipchoge becomes the 15th Kenyan to win the men’s race in Berlin.

Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto set a new World Record time of 2:02:57 at the same course last year.

Kipchoge, Kiptanui, Lilesa, Emmanuel Mutai, Geoffrey Mutai and Tamirat Tola formed the first group behind three pacers as they passed 15 km in 43:53.

Kipchoge had a problem with his shoes when both insoles came off. However, they passed half marathon mark at 61:53.

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