Ethiopian Tigst Asifa broke the world record for the women’s marathon in Berlin today, Sunday, with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 52 seconds, surpassing the previous record by more than two minutes. Asifa, who set the race record last year, maintained an impressive pace from the start and gradually overtook all her competitors to break the previous world record set by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei in 2019, which was 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 4 seconds.
Her record-setting victory overshadowed Eliud Kipchoge's win, who claimed the world record in the race for the fifth time. The 38-year-old Kenyan, who is aiming for his third Olympic marathon medal next year in Paris, did not come close to the record he set in Berlin last year, finishing with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 42 seconds.
Asifa, who began participating in marathons in April of last year, showed her intentions from the start by launching at a very fast pace. She completed the first half of the race in 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 20 seconds, and was among six runners competing at a pace that could break the world record if maintained in the renowned Berlin marathon, known for being one of the fastest courses in the world. The Ethiopian runner faced no difficulty in keeping her speed, and at the 37-kilometer mark, she was just three seconds slower than Kipchoge's time at the same stage, continuing on her path to shatter the world record.
