Ethiopian Tigist Assefa shatters the world marathon record in Berlin

MADRID, 24 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Ethiopian athlete Tigist Assefa broke the marathon world record this Sunday in Berlin with a time of 2:11:53, well below the previous best mark, set by the Kenyan Brigid Kosgei, who ran the Chicago marathon in 2 :14:04 in 2019.

Supported by the modern technology of its shoes, the Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, Assefa starred in a record-breaking course from the beginning, in perfect conditions, and quickly distanced itself in a race conducive to achieving the time.

With an initial temperature of 14 degrees, a cloudy and later sunny sky, the favorite seemed relaxed at all times on the flat course of the German capital and was even able to sprint at the end. The podium was completed by the Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui, almost six minutes behind (2:17:49) and the Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri (2:18:41).

In 2022, Assefa won the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:15:37, positioning himself among the world elite of the 42.195 kilometers. The last women’s world record in Berlin was set by the Japanese Naoko Takahashi in 2001, 22 years ago, when she was the first athlete to go under 2:20 hours, stopping the clock at 2:19:46.

As for the men’s category, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge achieved victory, being the first to do so for the fifth time, but he missed another world record by a wide margin. The 38-year-old runner won in 2:02:42 ahead of his compatriot Vincent Kipkemoi (2:03:13) and the Ethiopian Tadese Takele (2:03:24).