Kenya's Gladys Cherono retains Berlin Marathon

Kenya's Gladys Cherono crosses the finish line to win the women's category of the Berlin Marathon on September 16, 2018 in Berlin. PHOTO | JOHN MACDOUGALL |

What you need to know:

  • She finished ahead of Ethiopia's Aga Ruti (2:18.35), with compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba placed third in 2:18.56.
  • She broke the course record by 61 seconds, erasing Japanese Mizuki Noguchi’s course record time of 2:19:12 from her victory in 2005.

Kenya’s Gladys Cherono smashed her personal best and course record when she claimed her third Berlin Marathon victory on Sunday.

Cherono, who broke away from the pack at the 25km mark, swept the course to victory in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 11 seconds, becoming the fourth fastest woman in the history of women’s marathon.

She broke Japanese Mizuki Noguchi’s 13-year-old course record by 61 seconds besides improving her personal best of 2:19:25 set with victory in 2015 in Berlin. Noguchi won the 2005 Berlin in a course record time of 2:19:12.

Kenya's Gladys Cherono (right) and second placed Ethiopia's Ruti Aga celebrate after the women's category of the Berlin Marathon on September 16, 2018 in Berlin. PHOTO | JOHN MACDOUGALL |

Cherono, the 2014 World Half Marathon champion, edged out Ethiopia’s Ruti Aga, who was fresh from finishing second at Tokyo Marathon in February and multiple world and Olympic champion Tirunesh Tirunsh Dibaba also from Ethiopia to second and third places in 2:18:34 and 2:18:55 respectively.

“My target was to break he course record and improve on my personal best and I am happy I did it,” said Cherono, who retained her title for her third success in Berlin. She won in Berlin in 2015 in personal best 2:19:25 before reclaiming the title last year in 2:20:23.

Kenya's Gladys Cherono (right) and second placed Ethiopia's Ruti Aga embrace after the women's category of the Berlin Marathon on September 16, 2018 in Berlin. PHOTO | JOHN MACDOUGALL |

Cherono’s time was the fourth fastest time in the history of women’s marathon after Paula Radcliffe’s 2:15:25, Mary Keitany’s 2:17:01 and Dibaba’s 2:17:56.

Cherono got to pocket a total of Sh 9.5 million; Sh 5.5million for winning and a bonus of Sh 4 million from running below 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Aga and Dibaba also got Sh 4 million each in bonuses apart from their prize money.

It was the first marathon in history in which three women finished inside 2:19.