Kenya runners dominated the Berlin Marathon in stunning victories on Sunday. Eliud Kipchoge was the newest person to break the world record marathon time. He broke the record by 78 seconds and ran at an average 13 mph to run an amazing 02:01:39 time.
An AMAZING Race and a DOUBLE KENYAN vIctory as @EliudKipchoge broke the #WorldRecord with 2:01:39 at the #BerlinMarathon as Kenya swept the Men's race in a 1,2,3 finish while Gladys Cherono beat out two Ethiopians to win in 2:18:11…..HONGERA to all! Let's Go, KENYA, LET'S GO! pic.twitter.com/Mw83px9GUE
— Jeff Koinange, MBS (@KoinangeJeff) September 16, 2018
In the past 15 years, the world marathon record has been broken seven times, all at Berlin. The last world record was set in 2014 by Dennis Kipruto Kimetto, another Kenyan. Kimetto’s time was 1 minute 17 seconds slower than the record Kipchoge set on Sunday.
Kipchoge is 33-years-old and from Kapsisiywa, Nandi District, Kenya. He has won 11 marathons, including 2 other times at Berlin and winning gold at the Rio Olympics. Other Kenyans to compete well in Sunday’s race were Gladys Cherono (02:18:11), who won the women’s division and set a new record for the course (previously at 02:19:12, set in 2005; the world women’s record is 02:15:25 by the United Kingdom’s Paula Radcliffe). Additionally, Amos Kipruto and Wilson Kipsang, came in second (02:06:23) and third (02:06:48) places, respectively.
Kenya might see this as a sign of hope for the country, which has been in much political turmoil over the past couple of years. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta tweeted out congratulations to the men’s sweep of wins:
“Congratulations Eliud Kipchoge for breaking the world record at the #BerlinMarathon2018. I also congratulate his compatriots Amos Kipruto & Wilson Kipsang’ for going out valiantly to bring a 1-2-3 victory for #TeamKenya. You are our heroes. Kenya is proud of you.”
President Uhuru also tweeted for Cherono:
“Brilliant performance by Gladys Cherono at the #BerlinMarathon2018 Women’s race. Congratulations for setting a new course record. You have once again made the Kenyan flag fly high. Hongera #TeamKenya”
Congrats Kipchoge, Cherono, and people of The Republic of Kenya!
Featured Image via Wikimedia Commons
