Haile Gebrselassie Breaks Marathon World Record

BERLIN — Haile Gebrselassie broke his own marathon world record on Sunday, becoming the first runner to finish under 2 hours, 4 minutes.

The Ethiopian clocked 2:03:59 to win his third straight Berlin Marathon, beating the mark of 2:04:26 he set last year over the same flat course. He also became the first runner to win the race three times.

"Today, I'm so, so, so happy. Everything was perfect today," Gebrselassie said.

Running under clear, sunny skies in mild temperature, Gebrselassie paced himself well and controlled the race from the start.

The 35-year-old Gebrselassie was way out front as passed through the Brandenburg Gate and ran to the finish line to applause from the crowd lining the route.

Gebrselassie said his training in the buildup to the race was hindered by an injury.

"I had a small calf muscle problem and I stopped for a week, and then I started again a week ago," he said. "Then today I had, you know, some doubts ... but it was really very good."

The Ethiopian praised Berlin and its spectators in helping him break his 26th world record.

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"Before I came here, I knew I can do something here in Berlin, because since I started running Berlin is my lucky city," Gebrselassie said.

He improved last year's winning time by nearly half a minute.

Berlin's flat course often provides for fast times.

Five years ago, Paul Tergat of Kenya ran 2:04:55, becoming the first man to go under 2:05.

Gebrselassie first ran in Berlin in 2006 and clocked 2:05:56, before breaking the world record last year. In three years, he has improved nearly two minutes on the course.

The Ethiopian chose to skip the Olympic marathon in Beijing because of the city's pollution. However, he finished sixth in the 10,000 meters, a race he won in Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.

Irina Mikitenko of Germany won the women's race in 2:19:19, improving her best by over four minutes to clock the seventh fastest time in history for a woman.

She became the fourth fastest woman marathon runner of all time, with only Paula Radcliffe, Catherine Ndereba and Mizuki Noguchi ahead of her. Mikitenko broke the national record and became the first German woman to run under 2:20.

Askale Magarsa of Ethiopia was second in 2:21:31 and Helena Kirop of Kenya finished third in 2:25:01. Both ran personal bests.

Comments

[jokekofi]

Congrats. He shd have run in the Olympics.

[kid5rivers2]

Congrats Haile! well done! A most remarkable achievement. And coming on the heels of several before (no pun intended).

And, most of all, a premonition of what's gonna happen with the POTUS race, when it ends come November the Fourth, 2008.

;-)

[metsy]

Congratulation Haile for breaking your own record.
You are the greatest,I'm very proud of you

[liberalrebuttal]

And the sky is blue.

This is News ?

LOL

Hey, I'm Black too so don't get mad at me.

[Matt7]

Don't act like a Rethug and mock and belittle what you don't understand or appreciate.

"THE Race" is not all the news there is.

See the post below for importance/relevance.


Go bro'!

[liberalrebuttal]

Okay,

I'm sorry.

:(

[metsy]

can you ran half a mile?

[negogato]

Yes this is news

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

This is amazing! I run on a purely recreational basis, so I can appreciate the effort and training and discipline that is needed to run that far in a little over two hours.

What makes this even more remarkable is that distance running is one of the few sports left where despite advances in technology it's still the individual and not the accessories that shines through. You can have the best shoes and the most aerodynamic gear, but those shorts and those shoes will never replace the basic province of the sport: turning one foot over the other.

Kudos to Haile and those who love the sport.

[yoshiyahu]

Of course, Marathons aren't just about the elite runners who vie to break their personal bests and world records. They are also about everyone else out there on the course. And the fact that the WR fell means that, in addition to the flat course, this marathon took place in perfect weather conditions- not too hot or windy, perfect running weather. And thousands of people must have also broken their personal bests and exceeded expectations in Berlin.

Those of us who run or walk marathons can tell you about the awesome athletes we encounter and journey with as we prepare for each marathon-- everything from preteens to folks in their 80s. Serious athletes who are competing against their previous performances. Weekend warrior types who got off the couch and into a pair of proper running shoes not for exercise, but because they want to raise money for a favorite charity. Men and women who run in memory of a loved one who has died. And people like me that need the pressure of the next upcoming marathon to keep me outside and exercising. While I am excited for the sport to see another record broken by a dedicated athlete, I get most excited thinking about the throngs of everyday athletes who had a great run in Berlin.

[pencilpusher]

Elites like Haile run times less than half what it takes me. I consistently run in the bottom third of the pack. But no matter. Even the men and women who run dead last are head of 99.99% of the population who can't do it AT ALL.

Not too many years ago one of the elites said he was most in awe of the people at the back of the pack. He said they slog it out for 4-6 hours and he didn't know how they could stay on their feet that long while he only had to last for a couple of hours!!

Anyway, congrats to Haile for his second record run in a row.

[derekc06]

i've never encountered a sport as self-congratulatory as long-distance running...

which baffles me...

[TchoupitoulasCanal]

I'm going to guess that you don't watch much professional golf then, do you?

[Fight4USA8]

Congratulations, Haile!

It seems Marathon belongs to male & female athletes of Ethiopia.

[DebofMD]

Congratulations, Haile Gebrselassie! That is amazing. Get some rest. :)

[negogato]

Endurance running is the greatest sport we have. The rules are as old as we human beings have been running. Training, Will, Ability and yes speed. Sustained speed ~ to run like this is a sustained sprint ~ without being near the lead runners it is hard to appreciate just how FAST they are moving.
Violence has no part in deciding the winner, nor does privilege. And only the strongest born can succeed.
This is a great day for one man and a great day for all who have the ability to feel that we have a share a common humanity.
Haile Gebrselassie we salute you!!

[derekc06]

only the strongest born can succeed...

ok

[negogato]

I think you know what I mean.

[amazinggrace]

Looks as though Haile Gebrselassie move up to the long distance event several years ago has worked to his advantage! Have been following his racing career for years and the move up has been sensational for both Gebrselassie and the maratthon.

[HypnoToad]

Simply amazing, congratulations.

[eden4barack08]

BRAVO GEBRE!

And thanks for all the good you do in Ethiopia.

[jobama]

I second that my fellow Ethiopian!!!!

[ZimboChick]

Bravo bravo!!!!!!

[Cunningham]

Congratulations to Haile Gebrselassie! Amazing feat/feet!

[lakat]

I was sad when I heard Gebrselassie decided not to run the marathon in Bejing and then realized that the polution problem was not a factor. It was too late to participate then but I hope this great win in Berlin will help salve the wound of Bejing. Well done!