Bekele Narrowly Misses World Record in Berlin Marathon Win

Date: 29 September 2019 - 22:38

News ID: ۷۱۰۷۳

BERLIN (Reuters) – Former Olympic and world champion Kenenisa Bekele staged a thrilling comeback to win the Berlin marathon on Sunday, dramatically missing out on the world record by two seconds after recording the second fastest time ever.
Ethiopian Bekele, winner in Berlin in 2016 and world record holder over 5,000 and 10,000 meters, finished in two hours, one minute and 41 seconds, agonizingly close to Eliud Kipchoge’s world record time despite a full sprint in the final 400 meters.
Kipchoge, who set the world’s best mark in Berlin last year, was absent to prepare for his renewed sub-two hour marathon attempt in Vienna on Oct. 12.
Bekele was part of a group, including fellow countrymen Birhanu Legese and Sisay Lemma, that quickly broke from the pack with a quick pace.
Legese, winner of this year’s Tokyo marathon, then gradually shook off Bekele and then Lemma after the 30km mark.
Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele wins the men's elite race.