Eliud Kipchoge triumphed to secure a fifth Berlin marathon as Tigist Assefa took more than two minutes off the women's world record. This was his first race since finishing sixth in the Boston Marathon held in April and the double Olympic champion finished alone at the front clocking 2:02:42 in time. Fellow Kenyan Vincent Kipkemboi finished slightly above half a minute after Kipchoge while Ethiopian Tadese Takele was third. After the race, Kipchoge said: "It didn't go as expected but that's how sport is. I've learned lessons. I have won but I've not broken the world record. Every race is a learning lesson." When asked about his prospects of defending his Olympic title in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, he said: the outcome of the Berlin Marathon had little bearing on his plans and that he would "put all my experience in next year in the Olympics in Paris, and try to be the first human to win for the third time in history". 

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In the women's race, Ethiopian Tigist Assefa finished first as she clocked 2:11:53 in time while Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui was a distance second in 2:17:49. Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri was third. "It's the result of hard work which I've put in over the last year," Assefa said after the race. "I didn't expect to break the record by such a margin, but I did think I could break it," she added.  All eyes now shift to the upcoming Paris Olympics that will take place from July 26th to August 11th. Kenya is widely known for long-distance running and the expectations of many is that our marathoners will make the country proud just as they always do. 

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(Image: Kenya News Agency)