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BERLIN MARATHON

Kipchoge smashes marathon world record in Berlin

The marathon saw the biggest improvement on a world record for 51 years as Eliud Kipchoge triumphed in Berlin.

Kipchoge smashes marathon world record in Berlin
Bongarts

Eliud Kipchoge took more than a minute off the world record as he put on a sensational display to win the Berlin Marathon on Sunday.

The German capital has become the home of record times over recent years, with each of the last six markers having been set in the city.

Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya crosses the finishing line to win the Berlin Marathon 2018 in a new world record time of 2:01:39 on September 16, 2018 in Berlin, Germany.
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Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya crosses the finishing line to win the Berlin Marathon 2018 in a new world record time of 2:01:39 on September 16, 2018 in Berlin, Germany.Maja HitijBongarts/Getty Images

But Berlin has never witnessed a performance quite like Kipchoge's, the Kenyan completing the route in a remarkable two hours, one minute and 39 seconds.

That time shaved a mammoth 78 seconds off the previous best - set by compatriot Dennis Kimetto in Berlin in 2014.

The 33-year-old's achievement is the biggest single improvement on the marathon world record since Derek Clayton took two minutes, 23 seconds off the time in 1967.

Amos Kipruto finished a distant second behind Kipchoge, while Wilson Kipsang - a past holder of the record - completed the podium.

Gladys Cherono made it a day of double delight for Kenya by also taking more than a minute off the women's course record to defend her title.

Ruti Aga was second, with Tirunesh Dibaba third in a race that saw three women finish inside two hours and 19 minutes for the first time.