The marathon World Record was crushed by Kenya’s Dennis Kimetto on Sunday at the Berlin Marathon where Dennis ran a 2:02:57 becoming the first human to ever break 2 hours and 3 minutes for 26.2 miles.
Kimetto took 26 seconds off the World Record that was set at last year’s Berlin Marathon by fellow countryman Wilson Kipsang.
Kimetto’s the best marathoner in the world having won three of the world’s six major marathons in the past year.
He kicked it up a notch to leave Emmanuel Mutai in his wake with less than 5 kilometers to go. Mutai’s second place finish broke the previous World Record as well. Mutai finished in 2:03:13. Ethiopia’s Abera Kuma took third in 2:05:56.
Kimetto ran a negative split, running the second half of the race 33 seconds than the first half. His WR pace for 26.2 miles was an astonishing 4 minutes and 41 seconds per mile.
Dennis Kimetto’s Marathon-ology
Berlin Marathon – 2:02:57 (September 28, 2014) WR/Won
Chicago Marathon – 2:03:45 (October 13, 2013) CR/Won
Berlin Marathon – 2:04:16 (September 30, 2012) 2nd Place/1 second behind winner
Tokyo Marathon – 2:06:50 (February 24, 2013) CR/Won
Kimetto plans to run next in the New York City Marathon in just a few weeks.
The World Marathon Majors® (WMM) has decided that Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) and Mary Keitany (Kenya) are the champions of the 2011-2012 World Marathon Majors Series, in the wake of the cancellation of the 2012 New York City Marathon.
From BAA: With the cancellation of the 2012 ING New York City Marathon, the 2011-2012 Series has concluded and there will be no additional points awarded. Mutai had already secured the Series title in advance of the New York race with 75 points tallied in winning the 2011 Boston Marathon, the 2011 ING New York City Marathon, and the 2012 BMW Berlin Marathon. Keitany secured the title with 65 points accumulated with victories at the 2011 and 2012 Virgin London Marathons, and a third place finish at the 2011 ING New York City Marathon. These athletes will split the $1 million prize purse.
The New York City Marathon, that was scheduled for November 4, 2012, was cancelled after Hurricane Sandy struck the area leaving massive devastation and loss of human life.
NYRR president Mary Wittenberg along with NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided less than 40 hours before the start of the scheduled marathon to cancel the race after announcing earlier in the week that the race would proceed as planned.
Kenya has announced the runners that will represent the country for the marathon in the 2012 London Olympics later this year.
This is paramount to the United States selecting it’s latest edition of the Dream Team for basketball.
Representing Kenya in London will be Wilson Kipsang, who won the London Marathon just three days ago, along with Abel Kirui and Moses Mosop according to the BBC.
In a bit of a shocker Patrick Makau who holds the world record for the marathon was left off the team along with Geoffrey Mutai and Emmanual Mutai.
Makau’s exclusion is probably similar to the USA leaving Isaiah Thomas off the original 1992 Dream Team because Michael Jordan and others on the team hated him so much.
Representing the Kenyan women will be Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo.
Not that they will need it, but best of luck to Wilson (can’t help but think of Castaway), Abel (finally getting the better of Cain), and Moses (enough said), Mary, Edna and Priscah.
