Berlin Marathon
September 26, 2010
Kenyan Patrick Makau won the 37th Berlin Marathon, but failed to break the world record set on the course two years ago by Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie.
Makau finished more than a minute outside the record in a time of two hours, five minutes and eight seconds.
Compatriot Geoffrey Mutai tucked in behind him, crossing the line just two seconds later. Third place went to Bazu Worku of Ethiopia with a time of 2:05:25.
Makau and Mutai had set their sights on Gebrselassie's world record of 2:03:59 set on the same course in Berlin in 2008. But bad weather took its toll and both men were more than 30 seconds off the pace at the halfway mark.
Gebrselassie was absent from this year's marathon, planning instead to run the New York City Marathon in November.
The women's event this year was claimed by Aberu Kebede of Ethiopia in a personal best of 2:23:58. Teammate Bezunesh Bekele came home a minute behind in second, followed by Tomo Morimoto of Japan in third.
More than 40,000 men and women took part in this year's race on the puddle-punctuated streets of the German capital.
Author: Gregg Benzow (dpa/ap/Reuters)
Editor: Sean Sinico