Kenyan Kipchoge improved his world record in the marathon: how long he did it and why it meant a rematch

just fabulous. She had insinuated it and realized it. At 37, the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge extended his legend as one of the greatest runners in history, beating the marathon world record with 2 hours, 1 minute and 9 secondscutting exactly half a minute off the record he set at this same Berlin circuit four years ago, on September 16, 2018.

“I’m thinking of having a great race. And if it’s my best grade, I’ll accept it. I will try to push myself. I always say, if you want to test yourself, come to Berlin. But I don’t want to commit in a moment. “Kipchoge had expressed in the previous press round.

Two-time Olympic champion (Rio 2016, Sapporo 2021) – a feat that only the Ethiopian had achieved Abebe Bikila in the 1960s and in East Germany Waldemar Cierpinski in 1976 and 1980- Kipchoge is the symbol of progress in brand quality which was unthinkable until a few years ago. It is true that he also has “the first 2 hour sub marathon” (obtained at the Prater in Vienna with 1h59m41 during the so-called Desfío Ineos) but not under regulatory conditions. Still it is a warning one day a runner will understandwithin the mythical discipline of athletics.

This Sunday, September 25th, in one of the most popular circuits for runners and in a race that has the “Elite Platinum Label” category in the calendar of the international federation (World Athletics), Kipchoge passed comfortably in the partial 14m.14 for the 5km. and 28m.22 for the 10 km. and when he crossed the halfway point in 59m.50. Everything indicated that the chances of the record remained. The same at 25 km. in 1h.11m.08s., although he got along well with the “pacer”, the Ethiopian Andemiak Belihu. The key was to keep his pace in the following partials: 1h.25m.40 for the 30 (1h25m40) and 35 km. (1h40m10s). In 40 km. He crossed in 1h.54m53s and didn’t slacken until he reached his hey feat.

His compatriot came in second place Marco Corirbut already far away, with 2h05m58, the Ethiopian is third Abbot Tadu with 2h06m.28s.

But if Kipchoge’s pace was devastating among the men, the women’s race was more closely contested, where six of the competitors crossed the 30km mark. in a leading group in 1h36m41s. The triumph went to the Ethiopian Tigista Assefa in 2h.15m37s, which constitutes the third vote in the history of the women’s marathonwhere the record belongs to the Kenyan Brigida Kosgei (2h14m04s three years ago).

Second came a rookie, the Kenyan Rosemary Wanjiru with 2h18m0s, three seconds ahead of the Ethiopian Tigist Abayechew. The triumph of Assefa was a total surprise, since he had a record of 2h34m01s and was not among the favorites. At the age of 26 she broke the record of the women’s circuit that the Kenyan Gladys Cherono had set four years ago with 2h18m11.

Kipchoge has already won the Berlin Marathon four times: 2015 with 2h04m00, 2017 with 2h03m32, 2018 with the record of 2h01m39 and now. His career in 42.195 meters – the distance he faced for the first time almost a decade ago in Hamburg – is directly exceptional: he has participated in 17 races, winning fifteen. His only “non-victories” were in Berlin 2013 (when he finished second in a formidable duel with compatriot Wilson Kipsang) and two years ago in London where, on the return of competitions during the pandemic, he finished with a surprising eighth place.

In all, more than 45,500 runners from 157 countries started this Berlin marathon, which celebrated its 48th. edition and which, for two decades now, has established itself as the fastest in the world. It was here that another outstanding runner like the Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie he achieved four consecutive victories, between 2006 and 2009.

But Kipchoge has put the records in another dimension and even though he will be 40 at the time of the Paris Olympic marathon, it wouldn’t be surprising if he tried to get there. “When your mind is fine, your muscles are fine. The marathon is a very long event and if your mind cannot manage the running for a long time, your tactics will not work. “There is no doubt about his tactical ability. And if his physical condition was questioned in the post-pandemic – for that performance in London – there are no doubts even now. He just proved it in his favorite territory, Berlin.

In the German capital the route is ideal: very flat and variable between 38 and 53 meters above sea level. The starting and ending point are on the Grobern Stern boulevard, which crosses the beautiful and vast Tiegarten park. It travels along wide roads and comfortable curves, while the trees in many places make the effort more bearable. In the last few meters you cross the legendary Brandenburg Gate. The climatic conditions between 12 ° C and 18 ° C, repeated that Sunday, complete this ideal situation. And there is no doubt: the last eight world records (and nine of the last 12) were set there..

All Kipchoge marathons

21.04.2013 Hamburg 1 2h.05m.30s.

29.09.2013 Berlin 2 2h.04m.05s.

13.04.2014 Rotterdam 1 2h.05m.00s

12.10.2014 Chicago 1 2h.04m.11s.

26.04.2015 London 1 2h.04m.42s

27.09.2015 Berlin 1 2h.04.00s.

24.04.2016 London 1 2h.03m.05s.

21.08.2016 Rio de Janeiro (J Olympics) 1 2h.08m.44s.

24.09.2017 Berlin 1 2h.03m.32s

22.04.2018 London 1 2h.04.17s.

16.09.2018 Berlin 1 2h.01m.39s. world record

28.04.2019 London 1 2h.02m.37s.

04.10.2020 London 8 2h.06m.49s

18.04.2021 Enschede 1 2h.04.30s.

08.08.2021 Sapporo (Olympic Games) 1 2h.08m.38s.

06.03.2022 Tokyo 1 2h.02m.40s.

25.09.2022 Berlin 1 2h.01m.09s. world record

The progression of the record

2h.12m.00 Morio Shigematsu Japan Chiswick 1965

2h09m36s Derek Clayton Australia Fukuoka 1967

2h08m34s Derek Clayton Australia Antwerp 1969

2h08m18 Robert DeCastella Australia Fukuoka 1981

2h.08m.05s. Steve Jones Great Britain Chicago 1985

2h.07m.12s. Carlos Lopes Portugal Rotterdam 1985

2h.06m.50s Belayneh Dinsamo Ethiopia Rotterdam 1988

2h.06m.05s Ronaldo Da Costa Brazil Berlin 1998

2h05m42s Khalid Khannouchi Morocco Chicago 1999

2h05m38s Khalid Khannouchi Morocco London 2002

2h.04m.55s Paul Tergat Kenya Berlin 2003

2h.04m.26s Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia Berlin 2007

2h.03m59s. Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia Berlin 2008

2h.03m.38s Patrick Makau Kenya Berlin 2011

2h.03m.23s. Wilson Kipsang Kenya Berlin 2013

2h.02m.57s Dennis Kimetto Kenya Berlin 2014

2h01m39s Eliud Kipchoge Kenya Berlin 2018

2h01m09s Eliud Kipchoge Kenya Berlin 2022