Tigist Assefa Smashes Women's Marathon World Record in Historic Berlin Run as Eliud Kipchoge Creates Unparalleled Legacy

Ethiopian athlete, Tigist Assefa, smashed the women's marathon world record on Sunday at the Berlin Marathon. She crossed the finish line with a remarkable time of 2:11:53, beating the previous record by over two minutes.

This incredible achievement not only secured her second consecutive Berlin Marathon title but also surpassed Brigid Kosgei's previous world record set at the 2019 Chicago Marathon by a whopping two minutes and 11 seconds. It is important to note that the record is pending official ratification from World Athletics.

Assefa, a relatively new participant in long-distance running, was competing in her third marathon after transitioning from middle-distance races. The race began with intense speed, as the top 12 women all maintained a pace that was on track to break world records for the first 15 kilometers.

At the halfway mark, Assefa had already surpassed the world record pace by over a minute and held a commanding lead in the race, leaving her competitors behind. In the end, she finished nearly six minutes ahead of Sheila Chepkirui from Kenya, who came in second, and Magdalena Shauri from Tanzania, who achieved a national record with her time of 2:18:41.

Eliud Kipchoge won his fifth Berlin Marathon title.

Tobias Schwartz/AFP/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Kenyas Eliud Kipchoge won a record fifth title in the mens race, stopping the clock at 2:02:42, the fifth-fastest time of his career.

The Ethiopian athlete, Derseh Kindie, challenged the two-time Olympic champion throughout the race, but the champion managed to outpace him at around the 31-kilometer mark and secured victory with a 31-second lead.

The Berlin Marathon of this year was remarkable for its incredible speed, with a record-breaking nine men finishing the race in under 2 hours and 5 minutes, while a record-breaking eight women finished in under 2 hours and 20 minutes.