Bekele wins Berlin Marathon, misses world mark by 6 secs

Berlin, September 25 

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele pulled away from Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang late in the race to win the Berlin Marathon just outside the world record time here today.

Bekele’s winning time of two hours, 3 minutes and 3 seconds was six seconds outside Dennis Kimetto’s world record, also set in Berlin in 2014 and is the second best time.

“I wanted to set a personal best and it’s a fantastic time, but it’s a little disappointing to miss the world record by so little,” Bekele said.

Bekele and Kipsang opened a considerable lead over the rest of the field and ran shoulder-to-shoulder until Bekele pulled away with about two kilometres to go.

Kipsang finished 10 seconds behind Bekele in 2:03:13, faster than the 2:03:23 he clocked in winning the race in 2013, in what was then a world record.

Evans Chebet of Kenya was third in 2:05:31.

Bekele is considered one of the greatest distance runners of all time. He won three Olympic titles and five World Championship golds and is the world record holder over 5,000 and 10,000 metres. — AP