In the Berlin Marathon editions held to date, 12 world records have been set for the 42K distance. This is due to the route’s particular characteristics and altitude, which make it undoubtedly one of the fastest in the world.

Women in Berlin Marathon

The oldest record dates back to 1977, when German runner Christa Vahlensieck set a time of 2:34:48 for the 42-kilometer distance. She was followed in 1999 by Kenya’s Tegla Loroupe, who crossed the finish line at 2:20:43, while two years later, Japan’s Naoko Takahashi beat her at 2:19:46.

In 2015 came a new mark in the legs of the Kenyan Gladys Cherono, with a time of 2:19:25. In 2017, she repeated the dose, with a record of 2:20:23, and in 2018, she repeated the dose by setting a new course record, with an astronomical 2:18.11.

Five years later, Cherono’s record was broken by Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia, who set a new world and course record at 2:15:37.

Read also: Know the route and altimetry of the Berlin Marathon

A land of records for men

On the men’s side, nine world records have been set at the Berlin Marathon. In 2022, Eliud Kipchoge broke his previous world record, which he also achieved on this same course, and set an unprecedented time of 2:01:09.

In doing so, he pulverized the previous self-imposed 2018 mark of 2:01:39. Kipchoge had previously achieved a record in 2015 with a time of 2:04.01.

Before him, it had been done four years earlier, in 2014, by Kenyan athlete Dennis Kimetto with a time of 2:02:58, lowering by 26 seconds the record also achieved in the German capital by his compatriot Wilson Kipsang in 2013.

Then, Wilson Kipgsang registered a time of 2:03:23, 15 seconds less than his compatriot Makau’s previous time. Makau did not participate on that occasion due to a knee injury.

Precisely, Patrick Makau achieved the world record in 2011. Before him, it was the legendary Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie who, in 2007, recorded a time of 2:04:26 as a world record, to overcome it the following year by setting a mark of 2:03:59.

Kenyan Paul Tergat also figures in the history of Berlin marathon records, when he crossed the finish line in the 2003 edition and stopped the clock in 2:04:55. Finally, the oldest world record set at the Berlin Marathon was achieved by South American Ronaldo da Costa of Brazil in 1998 with his 2:06:06.

Without a doubt, the Berlin Marathon is the cradle of records.

Source: Wikipedia

Photos: DepositPhotos

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