As every last Sunday of September, the Berlin Marathon 2023 arrived to make history. On the past 24th of September from 8.50 in the morning, the world's elite athletes offered an unparalleled spectacle in which one name stood out above all, that of Tigist Assefa. With a historic time of 2:11:53, the Ethiopian set a new world marathon record, smashing the previous record of Brigid Kosgei and her 2:14:04 at the Chicago Marathon in 2019. Such a surprising feat that it even overshadowed the umpteenth victory of the "king" Eliud Kipchoge, who was the absolute protagonist in the men's category with a time of 2:02:42 to claim his fifth victory on German soil.
This Berlin Marathon 2023, as you already know, maintains a circuit that is ideal for breaking records, as we have been able to verify, due to its low accumulated gradient, its position with respect to sea level (low altitude) and optimal temperatures for running. And indeed it has been, because above all, we must highlight the race of Tigist Assefa. The Ethiopian, who already made history in 2022 with a time that broke her personal best by up to 18 minutes and was the best time of the year, race record and Ethiopian women's record, has demanded attention again. How? By reducing by more than two minutes, with a time of 2:11:53, the best time in history, held until now by Brigid Kosgei and her 2:14:04 in Chicago 2019. A historic milestone that opens a new door in the history of women's marathon and leaves us expectant for future records in the category. A category that, now more than ever, has a new absolute queen.
The prominence of Tigist Assefa was not overshadowed even by Eliud Kipchoge (as already happened in 2022 with his 2:01:09 that made all the headlines). The Kenyan, in his particular love affair with the German streets of Berlin and banishing the demons of the past Boston Marathon, achieved, this time without a world record, with a time of 2:02:42, his fifth victory in the Berlin Marathon, dethroning the legendary Haile Gebrselassie, who held four golds on German soil, and becoming the only marathon runner with five victories in the German capital. Kipchoge, who later stated that he did not feel strong enough to attack his own record, thus focuses on the "home stretch" towards the Paris 2024 Olympic marathon, where he can make history and become the first man to achieve three Olympic golds in the top long-distance category.
After the big winners of the day, in the women's category it is worth highlighting the races of Sheila Chepkirui and Magdalena Shauri. The Kenyan, with a time of 2:17:49, and after crossing the finish line with a facial expression that showed the suffering of what a marathon of this type entails, managed to go under 2 hours and 18 minutes. A time that on many occasions could have won her the race, but that, due to, or thanks to the incredible performance of Assefa, earned her second place in Berlin. Meanwhile, the Tanzanian Shauri, completed the course in a time of 2:18:41 to finish third and complete a historic podium in a Berlin Marathon that will be marked for posterity.
On the other hand, the men's category was quite a surprise after the, why not say it, most expected victory of Eliud. Against all odds, as at the start line there were up to 12 athletes with times under 2:06:00 and with Kipruto (2:03:13) or Maiyo (2:04:56) as main contenders to give battle, the podium was completed with two "novices". Both the Kenyan Vincent Kipkemoi and the Ethiopian Tadese Takele, who were making their debut in the queen's race, took the second and third place respectively with times of 2:03:13 and 2:03:24. A fight for the podium and to be the "best of the rest" that offered us a great day of running that will go down in history, as almost always in Berlin, for being a record-breaking day.
Live
The Berlin Marathon 2023 could be followed live from 8:50. Both through its official channels and via streaming through RTVE Play which you can access through the following link. And also, from RUNNEA, we commend the German production, which last year, due to Kipchoge's unintentional world record, deprived us of the spectacle that Assefa offered, this year, without the possibility of a men's record, focused much of the broadcast on following and detailing the historic race of the Kenyan.
Classification
Classification and results of the Berlin Marathon 2023, with the arrival times at the finish line of the first male and female runners.
Women's classification
- Tigist Assefa - 2:11:53 WR
- Sheila Chepkirui - 2:17:49
- Magdalena Shauri - 2:18:41
Men's classification
- Eliud Kipchoge - 2:02:42
- Vincent Kipkemoi - 2:03:13
- Tadese Takele - 2:03:24
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