Ethiopian distance running great misses world record by just two seconds after remarkable comeback run

Kenenisa Bekele added another remarkable result to his legendary CV on Sunday morning as the Ethiopian distance running great stormed to a 2:01:41 marathon in Berlin, missing Eliud Kipchoge’s world record by just two seconds.

In a thrilling race, the three-time Olympic track champion battled back to overcome a 13-second deficit at 35km, eventually winning by 67 seconds. Further demonstrating how incredible Bekele and Kipchoge’s times are, Birhanu Legese’s 2:02:48 for the runner-up spot places him third on the world all-time list, even though he was more than a minute back.

Completing an Ethiopian clean sweep, Sisay Lemma clocked 2:03:36 for third, while Kenyans Jonathan Korir and Felix Kandie were fourth and fifth with respective times of 2:06:45 and 2:08:07.

The women’s race was much closer and won by Ethiopia’s Ashete Bekere ahead of her compatriot Mare Dibaba, 2:20:14 to 2:20:21. Kenya’s Sally Chepyego was third in 2:21:06.

After his tremendous track and cross country career – featuring 16 world and three Olympic titles and his 5000m and 10,000m world records – Bekele’s marathon marks had not reached the same heights. His run in Berlin changes all that.

After leading through 5km in a fast 14:24, Bekele was part of the five-strong group which passed 10km in 28:52, compared to the 29:01 Kipchoge ran during his world record run in the German capital last year, though the Kenyan did go on to record a big negative split (61:06/60:33).

Lemma, Legese, Korir and Leul Gebrselassie remained in the lead group with Bekele through half way, where the clock showed 61:05 – a second under Kipchoge’s split from 12 months before.

Gebrselassie and then Korir were dropped, before Legese put in a surge around 30km. He ran 14:09 for the 5km between 30km and 35km which put him 13 seconds ahead at that point but Bekele had plenty left while Legese paid for his earlier exertion.

By 40km, after a 14:15 5km split, Bekele was 30 seconds ahead, with 1:55:30 on the clock.

He battled on, with the world record in his sights, and while missing it by an agonising two seconds, the 37-year-old later said that it “encourages me for the future”.

The finish of Kenenisa Bekele's 2:01:41 run at the #BerlinMarathon https://t.co/nIJLMnUosi

— AW (@AthleticsWeekly) September 29, 2019

Fans will now be eager to see when Bekele and Kipchoge might clash, with the Kenyan currently preparing for his sub-two-hour attempt in Vienna next month, which, like his 2:00:25 in Monza in 2017, will not be record-eligible.

“I am very happy with this fantastic result, I am happy with my new personal best,” said NN Running Team athlete Bekele, who has endured a few years of injury struggles.

“Although I am sorry I missed the world record by only a few seconds, this result encourages me for the future. I know I can still run a very good marathon and I don’t give up.

“I want to thank everyone who supported me and kept believing in me.”

Among the British runners were Jonny Mellor, who ran a PB of 2:12:29, and Matt Clowes, who clocked a 2:13:57 PB. Scott Overall ran 2:14:40 and Jonathan Thewlis clocked a 2:15:52 PB, while Adam Hickey ran 2:16:56 on his marathon debut.

In the women’s race, 2015 world champion Dibaba, Bekere, Chepyego and Helen Tola went through half way in 70:20.

At 40km, Bekere and Dibaba were 17 seconds ahead, with Bekere the stronger in a sprint finish as she claimed victory by seven seconds.

Behind Dibaba and Chepyego, Tola ran 2:21:36 for fourth and USA’s Sara Hall a four-minute PB of 2:22:16 for fifth.

Britain’s Tracy Barlow was in the elite field and went through half way in 77:28 but her last recorded split was 1:53:13 at 30km.

Alison Lavender clocked a PB of 2:41:18 and Fiona Brian a PB of 2:42:51.