Kenya’s Patrick Makau set a new world record in the marathon here on Sunday winning the Berlin Marathon in an official time of 2hr 03min 38sec.
The 26-year-old defending champion smashed the old mark of 2hr 03:59 set by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie in the same race in 2008. Gebrselassie had a torrid time failing to finish, just as he did in New York last November, after being prominent up to the 35km mark.
Makau led home a Kenyan 1-2-3 with one of the six designated pacemakers for the event Stephen Kwelio Chemlany taking second in 2hr 07:55 while Edwin Kimaiyo was third finishing in 2hr 09:50. Makau – a two-time half marathon world silver medalist – said he hadn’t expected to set a new world record when he woke up.
“I didn’t feel very well when I woke up this morning,” said Makau, who showed he was a force in the event last year with two victories, here and in Rotterdam. “But once the race got underway everything went well. “At the 25km mark, I felt then I could break the world record.
