Kenya’s newly crowned Berlin Marathon champion Kimetto close to wrapping up World Marathon Majors jackpot

Dennis Kimetto holds up the Kenyan flag as he celebrates winning the 41st Berlin marathon in a world record of two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds. [PHOTO: REUTERS]

Kenya’s newly crowned Berlin Marathon champion Dennis Kimetto wrote his name in history when he set a new world record mark of 2:02.57 on Sunday.

He also became the first man to complete a marathon in under two hours, three minutes. His run made him 75,000 dollars richer as the first finisher and will add another 68,000 dollars for the world record. Moreover, Kimetto has placed himself at the top of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) leader board with 75 points.

Only compatriot Wilson Kipsang can dethrone him from the helm, should he win in New York City on November 2.

“I know Kimetto has made it even harder for me now. I want to win the WMM jackpot and the only way to do so will be for me to beat the competition in New York,” said Kipsang in Eldoret on Sunday.

Three men and three women are in contention for the 1 million dollars winner-take-all prize that will be shared equally by the top male and female finisher in the WMM 2013-2014 scoring period, which concludes on November 2 in New York City.

The 2013-14 WMM series final lap for the season started in Berlin where Kimetto won on Sunday and will head to Chicago Marathon on October 12 before it concludes at the New York City marathon.

Points are at stake in each race as the chase for the grand prize intensifies. The current men’s leader is Kimetto on 75 points and defending champion Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia) failed to add any points to his tally in Berlin.

While a win for Kimetto is no forgone conclusion, it only makes it more competitive for Kipsang, who would need to win in the final race in New York to finish on 76 points and become the reigning WMM men’s champion.

“I believe I have the power and capacity to win in New York. It is a good effort by Kimetto and if I win or lose, the jackpot will still return to Kenya. Kebede won it last year, Geoffrey Mutai took it in 2012 and several other Kenyans have won it before. I believe it is my time this year,” said Kipsang.

On the women’s side, Rita Jeptoo can secure the WMM victory with a win at the Chicago Marathon and take her points to a maximum 100, and become the first athlete in the history of the competition to score the maximum points.

— Xinhua