Kipsang breaks marathon world record in Berlin

Wilson Kipsang shaved 15 seconds off the previous world record set by compatriot Patrick Makau, who ran 2:03.38 over 42.195 kilometres in the German capital two years ago. John MacDougall / AFP

BERLIN // Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang broke the marathon world record in Berlin on Sunday in a new official best time of 2hs 3 mins and 23 seconds.

Kispang, 31, shaved 15 seconds off the previous world record set by compatriot Patrick Makau, who ran 2:03.38 over 42.195 kilometres in the German capital two years ago.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who won the Hamburg marathon in April on his debut over the distance, finished second in a personal best time of 2:04.05 with compatriot Geoffrey Kipsang third with 2:06.26.

This is the ninth time a world record has been set in Berlin and five men’s world records have been set here in the last decade alone.

Makau was missing in the German capital having withdrawn a fortnight ago with a knee injury.

The women’s race was won by Kenya’s Florence Kiplagat, the 2011 winner in Berlin, in an unofficial time of 2hrs 21mins 13secs, six minutes off Paula Radcliffe’s world record set ten years ago in London.

Germany’s Irina Mikitenko finished third to break the world masters record for the over 40s, in a time of 2:24.54.

Having trained specifically to break the world record in Berlin, Kipsang, the Olympic bronze medallist, broke away from the leading pack in the final 10 kilometres and ran his own race.

The elite group had been on world record pace up until the 29km, but when the tempo dropped, Kipsang took matters into his own hands and was three seconds under the necessary pace in the final two kilometres.

Having run a previous personal best in 2011 when he went within Makau’s previous world record in Frankfurt, Kipsang added the Berlin title to his CV having won the London marathon in 2012.