Kipchoge sets new world record at Berlin Marathon

BERLIN - Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge created a new world mark of 2 hours one minute 39 seconds at the 45th edition of the Berlin Marathon on Sunday.

Kipchoge pulverized the world record of his fellow compatriot Dennis Kimetto from 2014 by 1 minutes and 18 seconds. It is for the sixth time that the world record has been broken and the largest improvement on the marathon world record since 1967.

The 33-year-old Olympic champion dominated the race and was supported by several pacemakers, who dropped out halfway through the race.

As the race progressed, Kipchoge kept it going, leaving fellow Amos Kipruto (2:06:23) on the second and Wilson Kipsang (2:06:48) on the third place.

"I was prepared to run my own race early so I wasn't surprised to be alone. I have trained so well for this race and have full trust in the programmes of my coach. I am just so incredibly happy to have finally run the world record as I never stopped having belief in myself," Kipchoge said after the race.

In the women's competition, Kenya's Gladys Cherono snatched the first place with a course record of 2:18:11 followed by Ethiopia's Ruti Aga, who clocked 2:18:34, and Tirunesh Dibaba with 2:18:55.