Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa yesterday smashed the women’s marathon world record in Berlin as Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s race for a record fifth time.
Assefa clocked 2 hours, 11 minutes, 53 seconds, more than two minutes ahead of the previous world mark of 2:14:04 set by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei in Chicago in 2019.
“I wanted to break the marathon world record, but I couldn’t imagine that it would result in a time under 2:12,” the 29-year-old said. “I am very happy.”
Photo: Reuters
She finished almost six minutes ahead of Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui, while Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri finished third, nearly seven minutes behind Assefa.
Assefa broke away early in perfect conditions in the German capital and continued her stunning time to become the first woman to set the world record in Berlin since Japan’s Naoko Takahashi in 2001. She crossed the line just after men’s world record holder Kipchoge won his race in 2:02:42.
Kipchoge finished 31 seconds ahead of countryman Vincent Kipkemoi, with Ethiopian Tadese Takele third.
Photo: AP
Kipchoge’s fifth win takes him past Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie’s four victories, but the Kenyan finished outside his previous world record of 2:01:09, set last year in Berlin.
“Sure, I expected myself to be able to set a world record again, but I can live with the fact that it didn’t work out,” Kipchoge said. “You can’t do that every day. I hope I can repeat my victory again at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but I would also be happy with the podium.”
Despite doubts after a surprise sixth-place at the Boston Marathon in April, 38-year-old Kipchoge came into the race confident, saying that he felt he was “coming home” at a race he has won four times — and set the world record at twice.
Kipchoge and Ethiopian Derseh Kindie pulled away from the pack early, the two crossing the halfway point with a split of 60:21, slower than the Kenyan’s world-record time of 59:51 last year.
Kindie, whose personal best stands seven minutes outside the world mark, kept pace with Kipchoge until 31km, where he suddenly fell back and appeared to drop out of the race, walking gingerly on the footpath as other runners overtook him.
Kipchoge continued to maintain his pace and crossed the line well clear of other runners for a record fifth win.
Two minutes before the marathon began, police were called into action, dragging climate protesters carrying buckets of orange paint from the track within sight of the runners standing on the starting blocks. As swiftly as the protesters swarmed the track they were removed, with only traces of paint remaining as the race began on time.
Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner started the race pressing a red buzzer, the organizers feeling the traditional starting pistol was inappropriate in light of the war in Ukraine.
Juventus on Sunday stopped Inter from replacing SSC Napoli at the top of Serie A by beating their fierce rivals 1-0 and moving into the UEFA Champions League positions. Francisco Conceicao made sure that Napoli would stay two points ahead of reigning champions Inter by classily tucking home the winning goal 16 minutes before the end of an entertaining contest in Turin. Portugal attacker Conceicao netted his fourth goal of the season in all competitions after brilliant work from Randal Kolo Muani to give Juve a third straight league win. Juve are in fourth place on 46 points, ahead on goal-difference from SS
Taiwan kept its hopes of advancing to the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) alive with a 9-1 victory over South Africa in a qualifier at the Taipei Dome last night, backed by solid pitching. Bouncing back from Friday’s struggles on the mound, when Taiwanese pitchers surrendered 15 runs to Spain, Team Taiwan kept the visiting team in check, allowing just one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. The win was crucial for Taiwan, as a loss would have eliminated the team from contention for the next WBC. Starting pitcher Sha Tzu-chen (沙子宸) struck out one and allowed no hits, except for
The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is considering reducing its pitch clock by two seconds to help players better adjust to the rules applied at the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The proposal aims to shorten the pitch timer from 25 seconds to 23 seconds with the bases empty, and from 20 seconds to 18 seconds with runners on base. Currently, the WBC mandates that pitchers deliver a pitch every 18 seconds with the bases empty and 15 seconds with runners on base. The issue was raised during a pre-season CPBL managers’ meeting on Tuesday by Rakuten Monkeys bench and batting
‘SETTING THE TONE’: Donovan Mitchell said that their determination to dominate had nothing to do with past results, but was about a potential post-season clash The Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday boosted their NBA-best record with a 142-105 romp past the New York Knicks, tightening their grip on the Eastern Conference lead with an all-around dominant display. Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points to lead six Cavs players to score in double figures, connecting on five of seven three-pointers as Cleveland drilled 19 from beyond the arc. “I think the biggest thing was just try to set the tone early,” Mitchell said, adding that the determination to dominate had nothing to do with the Knicks’ first-round playoff win over the Cavs two seasons ago and everything to do with
RSS