FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Berlin Marathon
The 38th BMW Berlin Marathon lived up to all expectations, with the seventh
world record in 13 years, this time for defending champion Patrick Makau of
Kenya, who first broke Haile Gebreselassie, then took the Ethiopian
legend's world record with 2.03.38.
Such was the damage done behind him when Makau streaked away after 27
kilometres, that one of the pacemakers, also a Kenyan, Stephen Chemlani
hung in and finished second, in 2.07.55; with another Kenyan, Edwin Kimaiyo
third in 2.09.50.
Gebrselassie, who stopped in discomfort when Makau surged away, recommenced
and briefly reclaimed second place, but eventually dropped out after the 35
kilometre point.
There was another Kenyan success in the women's race. Florence Kiplagat,
the 2009 world cross country champion, who had dropped out of her only
previous marathon, in New York last autumn, was never headed. World record
holder, Paul Radcliffe, returning from childbirth and a barren two years
competitively, stayed with Kiplagat for 12 kilometres, before gradually
dropping away. Kiplagat won by almost as big a margin as Makau, with her
2.19.44. Radliffe was passed by the steady starting local hero, Irina
Mikitenko at 33k, and the German went on the take second, in 2.22.18, with
Radcliffe a creditable third in 2.23.46.
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