The Berlin Marathon 2023 portrayed its name in marathon history as two remarkable athletes, Eliud Kipchoge and Tigist Assefa, delivered unforgettable performances.
In a stunning comeback after his sixth-place finish at the April Boston Marathon, Eliud Kipchoge, the 38-year-old double Olympic champion from Kenya, reasserted his dominance on the marathon scene. With unparalleled finesse, Kipchoge secured his fifth Berlin Marathon victory, crossing the finish line in an astounding time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 42 seconds.
Kipchoge’s triumph was not without fierce competition. Fellow Kenyan Vincent Kipkemboi pursued him, finishing just 31 seconds behind in second place, while Tadese Takele of Ethiopia secured a third-place finish, trailing by a further 11 seconds.
From the very outset of the race, Kipchoge, along with Derseh Kindie and three pacemakers, asserted their dominance within the first three kilometers. As the race progressed, Kipchoge’s impeccable pace and strategy were evident as he maintained a commanding lead. By the halfway point, their lead over the world record pace had dwindled, but Kipchoge remained resolute.
Despite facing a few challenges in the latter stages, Kipchoge’s legendary status prevailed. Reflecting on his performance, he graciously acknowledged that while he didn’t break the world record as expected, every race is a valuable learning experience.
In the women’s race, Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia left an indelible mark, shattering the women’s world record. After 15 kilometers, Assefa and fellow Ethiopian Workenesh Edesa surged ahead. Edesa eventually lost contact, leaving Assefa to continue her extraordinary run.
Assefa reached the half-marathon mark in a remarkable 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 20 seconds, surpassing Brigid Kosgei’s previous record by an astonishing 39 seconds. Demonstrating exceptional form, Assefa completed the race in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds, breaking the previous record by more than two minutes.
After her historic achievement, Assefa credited her success to a year of dedicated hard work, expressing her surprise at breaking the record by such a significant margin. Sheila Chepkirui of Kenya secured second place, with Magdalena Shauri of Tanzania claiming the third position.
The Berlin Marathon 2023 will be remembered as a day when records were shattered, legends were reaffirmed, and the spirit of marathon running reached new heights.
Berlin Marathon: Kipchoge Claims Fifth Win, Tigist Assefa Smashes Women’s Record
