Berlin Marathon: World record holder Dennis Kimetto boasts that he is only person who could lower the world record

Winner Dennis Kimetto from Kenya poses for media after the winners ceremony of the 41st Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2014. Kimetto set a new world record of 2h, 2min and 57sec.(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Kenya's gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge misses Dennis Kimetto's record by 35 seconds: Kimetto revels in unbroken world record as Eldoret comes alive

World record holder Dennis Kimetto boasted that he was the only person who could lower the world record.

Kimetto made the comments as jubilation swept through Eldoret town as marathon Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge outran Ethiopia’s marathon debutant Guye Adola in a race that saw former World record holder Wilson Kipsang drop out on the 30Km mark.

“I am the only one who can break my own record. It was a great race but the record still stands and I will lower it soon,” Kimetto, whose record stands at 2:02:57, said.

There was momentary tension as hundreds of residents watching the event live as the Ethiopian out-sprinted Kipchoge in the last stages of the two-horse race.

The Olympic champion, however, redeemed himself at the 37km mark, underlining his credentials as one of the greatest marathoners of all time.

He overtook his rival towards the tail-end of the race in a pulsating five-kilometre dash.

Grace Sugut, Kipchoge’s wife, could not hide her joy after her husband won the  marathon.

She led other fans in heaping praise on the 32-year-old runner, whose record stands at eight elite marathon wins from nine entries.

Kenya's gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge holds a giant glass of beer during the medal ceremony for the 44th Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn) Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, right, follows pace makers as he aims to win the 44th Berlin marathon in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

“Our children have been urging their dad to return home with a win and that is the thrust that propelled him to victory. It was tense at some point but my husband did not give up,” she said.

Former athlete Moses Tanui, the first man to run a half-marathon in under one hour, said Kipchoge ran a very tactical race, outwitting Adola in a tightly contested race.

Huge gap

“After the pace setters dropped out, it was now up to an athletes’ endurance and tactics to outdo their opponent. Kipchoge just had the upper hand and it paid off with the win,” he said.

Nahashon Koech, a fan, said it was a tense race in the dying stages after the Ethiopian opened up a wide gap.

“We felt it was going to be tough for Kipchoge to catch up after Adola opened up a huge gap. We thought the Ethiopian was going to win, but our man just proved his worth. He is the greatest of all time though he did not break the world record,” said Mr Koech.

 

[Kevin Tunoi]