The Kenyan Patrick Makau, a Rotterdam 'discovery', wins the Berlin marathon in a world record: 2.03.38.
In a head to head duel, Patrick Makau (26) knocked
off Haile Gebrselassie (38) from the marathon throne in Berlin. The
Ethiopian athlete has occupied that "seat" since 2007, when he
established a world record of 2.04.26 in the German capital.
A year later, he improved that time on the same course to
2.03.59.
ROTTERDAM
And now, since September 25, 2011 Makau is the fastest marathon
runner of all time. The Kenyan made his debut in 2009 in the ABN
AMRO Rotterdam Marathon (fourth place in 2.06.14) and in 2010
achieved world's best time of the year on the Coolsingel: 2.04.48.
In Berlin he was in a class of his own again.
TACTICS
Makau is known as a quiet, tactically strong runner. In
Berlin, he waited for about 27 km before accelerating. Gebrselassie
didn't really have an adequate response. He had breathing
difficulties and had to pause and then finally stepped out of the
race after 35 kilometres. After the race his manager Jos Hermens
said Haile dropped out due to his exercise-induced asthma.
WISH
Makau was unperturbed and went straight for an unprecedented
time. , "I was able to carry out precisely what I had in mind," he
said after his wonderful race. "Everything went to plan from
start to finish. And that while I didn't feel so good when I
woke up in the morning. But once I started running, that annoying
feeling disappeared quickly."
SOLOISTS
Makau passed the halfway mark in 1.01.44. "At that moment
I knew I was on track and that nothing could go wrong. This is the
best day of my life." After 35 kilometres he had to finish the job
as a soloist.
HARE
The new world record holder was at least 4.17 minutes ahead of
number two, compatriot Stephen Kwelio Chemlany, who ran like a hare
and finished in 2.07.55. A third Kenyan, Edwin Kimaiyo
(2.09.50), completed the medal rostrum.
KADIKS
Mario Kadiks, director of the ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam,
predicted in January that the world record would soon be broken.
"Everything pointed to it, "said Kadiks, who yesterday was
one of the first to congratulate Makau and organisers of the Berlin
marathon on their new world record. "Patrick's performance
didn't surprise me. After Gebrselassie dropped out he was
able to run his own race and nothing could stop him from breaking
the world record."
ABN AMRO CPC RUN THE HAGUE
According to the overjoyed Makau, also the winner in the
Netherlands of half marathons in Rotterdam and The Hague (ABN AMRO
CPC Run), it is questionable whether his world record will remain
for long. "People must understand that a new generation of runners
have arrived. They will move the goal post more often."
AGE
In Berlin, where a world record was run for the fifth time,
Makau brought an end to the marathon-era of Gebrselassie. His
role is not yet over, according to Jos Hermens. "Haile wants
to go to the Olympic Games in London and early next year could
probably set a fast time in Dubai, but I don't see him running a
world record again at his age.
BOSTON
In absolute terms, Patrick Makau is not the fastest marathon
runner ever. The Boston Marathon on April 18 was won by Kenyan
Geoffrey Mutai, carried by the wind he finished in the fabulous
time of 02.03.02. However that performance cannot be
recognised as an official world record because the course in Boston
does not meet all the requirements of the international athletics
association IAAF. The elevation on the route exceeds the permitted
42 metres and the start and finish lie further apart than the
allowed maximum of 21.1 km (a half marathon).
WOMEN
The Kenyan Florence Kiplagat triumphed in the women's category
in Berlin in 2.19.44. The German Irina Mikitenko (2.22.18) and the
British world record holder Paula Radcliffe (2.23.46) who ran a
marathon again for the first time in two years, ended in second and
third place.
BOONSTRA
Dutchwoman Miranda Boonstra (2.29.23) came tenth. The
39-year-old athlete with improved her time by five minutes, but to
qualify for an Olympic nomination, she had to be among the first
eight.
The men's top 10:
| 1. |
Patrick Makau |
(Ken) |
2.03.38 (wereldrecord) |
| 2. |
Stephen Kwelio Chemlany |
(Ken) |
2.07.55 |
| 3. |
Edwin Kimaiyo |
(Ken) |
2.09.50 |
| 4. |
Felix Limo |
(Ken) |
2.10.38 |
| 5. |
Scott Overall |
(GB) |
2.10.55 |
| 6. |
Ricardo Serrano |
(Spa) |
2.13.32 |
| 7. |
Pedro Nimo |
(Spa) |
2.13.34 |
| 8. |
Simon Munyutu |
(Fra) |
2.14.20 |
| 9. |
Driss El Himer |
(Fra) |
2.14.46 |
| 10. |
Hendrick Ramalaa |
(ZAfr) |
2.16.00 |
The women's top 10:
| 1. |
Florence Kiplagat |
(Ken) |
2.19.44 |
| 2. |
Irina Mikitenko |
(Dui) |
2.22.18 |
| 3. |
Paula Radcliffe |
(GB) |
2.23.46 |
| 4. |
Atsede Habtamu |
(Eth) |
2.24.25 |
| 5. |
Tatjana Petrova |
(Rus) |
2.25.01 |
| 6. |
Anna Incerti |
(Ita) |
2.25.32 |
| 7. |
Rosaria Console |
(Ita) |
2.26.10 |
| 8. |
Valeria Straneo |
(Spa) |
2.26.33 |
| 9. |
Eri Okubo |
(Jap) |
2.28.49 |
| 10. |
Miranda Boonstra |
(Ned) |
2.29.23 |
