KIPSANG TAKES MARATHON WORLD RECORD IN BERLIN
By David Monti, @d9monti
(c) 2013 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - Used with permission.

(29-Sep) - While current world record holder Patrick Makau looked on, Olympic bronze medalist Wilson Kipsang lowered Makau's marathon world record at today's 40th BMW Berlin Marathon by 15 seconds, clocking 2:03:23.  It was the sixth time that the men's world record had fallen on Berlin's flat course since Brazil's Ronaldo Da Costa ran 2:06:05 in 1998.  Kipsang became the third Kenyan man in history to hold the mark after Makau and Paul Tergat.

"This is a dream come true," Kipsang told race organizers.

Kipsang, 31, was supposed to battle Makau in today's race, but his rival was forced to withdraw from the event with a knee injury.  Instead, he got a spirited battle from two other Kenyans, two-time Olympic medalist Eliud Kipchoge and 2012 Kenyan 5000m champion Geoffrey Kipsang.  With the help of pacemakers Edwin Kiptoo and Philemon Rono, the trio were together through halfway in 1:01:32, 12 seconds faster than Makau's halfway split in 2011.

But from halfway to 30-K, the pace slackened and the record appeared to be in jeopardy.  At that point (1:28:01), the group was 23 seconds off of Makau's pace.

But Kipsang rallied, running 14:35 from 30 to 35-K, then 14:36 from 35 to 40-K.  That pace allowed him to first drop the younger Kipsang, then Kipchoge who was about 20 meters behind by 35-K.  With 2195 meters left, Kipsang was three second ahead of Makau's 2011 schedule and was gaining momentum.  He accelerated in the final meters to get the record, becoming the only man in history to run under 2:04 twice.

"Ten years ago, I watched Paul Tergat break the world record in Berlin, and now I have achieved the dream," Kipsang added, who is sponsored by adidas.  "I felt strong, so I attacked at 35-K, because the pace had become a little too slow."

Sadly, Kipsang's finish on a sunny and crisp day in the German capital was marred by a man who emerged from the side of the course inside of the final ten meters, and jogged through the tape ahead of Kipsang.  The man wore a yellow shirt promoting a prostitution service and wore bib number F7527.

Behind Kipsang, Kipchoge ran a personal best 2:04:05 in only his second marathon, the fifth-fastest mark ever on a record quality course.  Kipsang was third in 2:06:26.

"Congratulations to Wilson Kipsang, new world marathon record in Berlin 2:03:23," tweeted women's world record holder Paula Radcliffe.  "Plan it, execute it, enjoy it."

Kenya's Florence Kiplagat won the women's contest in 2:21:13 --her second win at Berlin-- ahead of compatriot and 2011 World Championships bronze medalist Sharon Cherop (2:22:28).  Like Kipsang, Kiplagat is also from Iten in the Great Rift Valley.  Germany's Irina Mikitenko, who won Berlin in 2008, set a new world masters (40+) record of 2:24:54 in third place.

"I felt strong in the first half of the race, but then I started getting problems with my right foot, I had a blister which forced me to slow down," Kiplagat said in a statement provided by race organizers.  "I found the weather conditions harder than two years ago here, but I'm still very happy."

American Olympian Desiree Davila completed her first marathon in 20 months, finishing third in 2:29:15.

"Proud of @des_davila in her first marathon back," tweeted Davila's coaches Kevin and Keith Hanson.  "The first step is always the most difficult and she has handled it with dignity. 2:29:15"

The BMW Berlin Marathon is part of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) series.  Like all WMM event winners, Kipsang earned 25 points today and is now second in the 2012/2013 series standings, four points behind Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede.  It is possible --but unlikely-- that Kipsang would win the $500,000 season-ending jackpot because he would have to come back from today's race and run either the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 13, of the ING New York City Marathon on November 4.

PHOTO: Wilson Kipsang after breaking the marathon world record at the 2013 BMW Berlin Marathon, clocking 2:03:23 (photo by Jiro Mochizuki, courtesy of SCC Events)

ENDS