Eliud Kipchoge |
Prior to the race, Kipchoge, fellow Kenyan Wilson Kipsang and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele had all set their sights on breaking Dennis Kimetto’s leading marathon mark of two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds along the flat, inner-city course.
But Bekele dropped away from the leaders just after the half-way mark and then Kipsang walked off the course after 30kms.
Great moments with my coach, very happy with my win in @berlinmarathon! Thank you all pic.twitter.com/W3170Hn0SK— Eliud Kipchoge (@EliudKipchoge) September 24, 2017
At the front, Kipchoge became embroiled in a classic tussle with the 26-year-old Adola, making his marathon debut.
Eliud Kipchoge (C), who won the Berlin marathon, with Guye Adol (L) and Mosinet Geremew. (Reuters Photo) |
Olympic champion Kipchoge needed until the 41st kilometre of the damp course to shake off his last surviving rival and cross the line in 2:03:32.
Adola finished 14 seconds adrift of the winner, with his Ethiopian compatriot Mosinet Geremew finishing third in 2:06:09.
Kipchoge’s victory was his second in Berlin and Gladys Cherono helped recreate the roll of honour from 2015, with the Kenyan winning the women’s race in 2:20:23 to also record a second win in the event.
Reuters