Tigist Assefa shatters women's world record with victory in Berlin Marathon, Eliud Kipchoge also triumphs

ByEurosport

Updated 24/09/2023 at 11:11 GMT

Those who turned out to watch the Berlin Marathon on Sunday morning were treated to a piece of history, as Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia smashed the women’s world record. Assefa crossed the line at the Brandenburg Gate in a time of 2:11.52, shattering the mark of Brigid Kosgei (2:14.04) dating back to 2019. Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s race for a record fifth time.

Tigist Assefa won the Berlin Marathon for the second year in a row, and shaved over two minutes off the previous world record in the process.

The Ethiopian produced a startling performance, crossing the line almost six minutes clear of Sheila Chepkirui in second place.

In stopping the clock in a time of 2:11.52, she shattered the record of Brigid Kosgei (2:14.04) that was set in 2019.

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“That I broke the record with such a result was not expected for me, but in some form I wanted to break the record,” Assefa said.

It was Assefa’s third attempt at a marathon, with her time of 2:15.37 in Berlin 12 months ago, shaving almost half an hour off her only other effort at the extreme distance.

Charlotte Purdue of Great Britain came home in ninth in a time of 2:22.17. She was the only runner not from Africa in the top 10.

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In the men’s race, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya produced a dominant run to take the title in a time of 2:02:42 - his fifth Berlin Marathon success.

Kipchoge has dominated the men’s marathon scene, and holds the men’s world record of 2:01.09.

He was on world-record pace for spells of the race, but fell away to post the fifth-fastest run of all time.

Eliud Kipchoge

Image credit: Getty Images

“I was expecting to do the same [as in 2022], but it did not come as I expected, but that is how sport is,” Kipchoge said.

“At the end of it, a little bit of hiccups, but it is normal in the race.”

Kipchoge's fellow Kenyan, Vincent Kipkemoi, claimed second. The podium was rounded out by Tadese Takele of Ethiopia.

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