On Sunday, September 29, 2013, Wilson Kipsang broke the marathon world record set by Patrick Makau two years ago.
The 31-year-old Kenyan athlete completed the 40th Berlin marathon race in 2:03:23, about 15 seconds earlier than that of Patrick who ran in 2:03:38. Also, he outran his fellow Kenyans Eliud Kipchoge (2:04.05) and Geoffrey Kipsang (2:06.26) who came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Kipsang who won $54,000 in prize money and $68,000 in bonus money for the world record expressed his joy ‘This is a dream come true. 10 years ago, I watched Paul Tergat break the World record in Berlin, and now I have achieved the dream. I felt strong, so I attacked at 35k, because the pace had become a little too slow’.
‘If I prepare very well, and with the same shape (I can go faster). Today there was a lot of wind, I was really fighting. Looking at my marathon progress and career so far, I still think I have the potential to run faster. Anything under 2:03:23 would do’ he told reporters.
Florence Kiplagat also made it a double success for Kenya as she won the women’s race in 2:21.13, ahead of her Kenyan compatriot Sharon Cherop and Germany’s Irina Mikitenko in third.
No comments:
Post a Comment