Gebrselassie races to marathon record in Berlin

Sep 28, 2008 - 7:09 PM By David Martin PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BERLIN (Ticker) -- Haile Gebrselassie raised the bar on his already distinguished career by lowering his own world marathon record below 2 hours, 4 minutes for the first time in Berlin on Sunday morning.

Gebrselassie put in an astonishing performance to run 2 hours, 3 minutes, 59 seconds in a showing that will rank alongside his two Olympic and four world championship 10,000 meter gold medals and numerous other world records he has claimed during his 15-year international career.

And, amazingly, the 35-year-old believes he - and others - can shave even more time off his new record.

"I can run 2 hours, 3 minutes, 30 seconds or something like that. It is possible, but now I'm running against my age as well," the Ethiopian said after his fantastic feat.

"This is just a record and tomorrow someone can break it. There are so many good runners and I suppose I will just have to run faster."

Gebrselassie powered away from his only remaining rival, James Kwambai, in the last six kilometers to claim the Berlin title for the third successive year in emphatic fashion.

Relishing the perfect weather conditions and pacemaking assistance, he roared to the line as massive crowds applauded his phenomenal display in the German capital, smashing his previous record of 2:4.26 set here last year.

Kwambai was also a revelation as he lowered his personal best by over five minutes to a time of 2:5.36 with fellow Kenyan Charles Kamathi taking third in 2:7.48.

"This race was fantastic even compared to last year," Gebrselassie said. "What can you say? The pacemaking from the beginning to the end was perfect and I have never seen weather like this.

"It just happens once in a lifetime."

Irina Mikitenko, who missed the Olympic marathon with a back injury, atoned for that disappointment when she became the first German winner of the women's race since Utta Pippig in 1995.

The 36-year-old added another success to her win last April in the London Marathon, clocking in with a time of 2:19.19.

The Kazakhstan-born star may have missed the three-year-old course record by just seven seconds, but was rewarded with a new German record after her powerful running in the final stages.

Askale Tafa of Ethiopia and Kenya's Helena Kiprop finished in second and third with personal bests of 2:21.31 and 2:25.01, respectively.

"I think every woman marathon runner dreams of running under 2 hours, 20 minutes and I achieved that today," said Mikitenko, who moved with her family to Germany in 1996.

"I wasn't worried when the others went ahead. I ran as fast in the early stages as planned and then went faster. After going through halfway I felt it was a race against the clock. I was sure I was going to win."