By Erik Kirschbaum / ReutersBERLIN -- Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie shattered a marathon world record on Sunday in Berlin that had been set four years ago by his great track rival Paul Tergat of Kenya.
Gebrselassie was clocked in an official time of two hours, four minutes and 26 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 2:04.55 his friend Tergat set on the same flat and fast Berlin course in 2003.
Gebrselassie, 34, swept through the streets of the German capital in ideal weather conditions, urged on by enthusiastic crowds of more than a million spectators that lined the 42-kilometer course to cheer him and the 40,000 competitors.
"This is wonderful, it's really special," Gebrselassie told German television just minutes after crossing the finishing line with a big smile on his face.
"Thank you to the people of Germany."
Gebrselassie received 50,000 euros for winning the race and a 50,000-euro bonus for the world record, on top of a reported 250,000-euro ($354,525) appearance fee.
Weather conditions were ideal for Gebrselassie with very little wind and overcast skies for most of the race. The sun broke through the clouds towards the end of the race, bringing the temperature up to 16 Celcius (60 F).
"Today it was perfect," he said, delighted that forecasts of a chance of rain were proved wrong.
"It was a little bit windy, but perfect. The audience, the spectators were great."
Abel Kirui of Kenya was second in 2:06.51 while compatriot Salim Kipsang was third in 2:07.29.
Gete Wami of Ethiopia won the women's race in a time of 2:23.17.
Gebrselassie had won Olympic 10,000-meter gold medals in 1996 and 2000, narrowly beating Tergat both times in memorable races.
He had been eager to beat Tergat's marathon world record in Berlin and came close last year before fading at the finish.
On Sunday, Gebrselassie got off to a fast start and was already 32 seconds inside Tergat's pace at the 10-kilometer mark.
He maintained that margin through the half-marathon point, clocking 62.29 to Tergat's 63.01, and at 30 kilometers when the last two of his five pacesetters retired.
Gebrselassie had tried to beat Tergat's record last year in Berlin and was on track until late in the race before falling a heartbreaking 61 seconds short.
He had faded in the final six kilometers in the face of difficult headwinds but this year he focused on endurance training, and organizers made sure there were enough pacesetters to take him through the 30-kilometer point.
It was the third time the men's world record was set on the flat Berlin circuit, where the enthusiastic crowds and fairly reliable weather conditions are also credited with helping to make it fast.
There have also been two women's marathon records set in Berlin, where the course winds through nine districts of the German capital and has a total inclination of just 30 meters.
It was the 25th world mark for Gebrselassie, who has held records at distances ranging from 3,000 meters to the marathon. He won four successive world titles over 10,000 meters before turning to road racing.
Gebrselassie was clocked in an official time of two hours, four minutes and 26 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 2:04.55 his friend Tergat set on the same flat and fast Berlin course in 2003.
Gebrselassie, 34, swept through the streets of the German capital in ideal weather conditions, urged on by enthusiastic crowds of more than a million spectators that lined the 42-kilometer course to cheer him and the 40,000 competitors.
"This is wonderful, it's really special," Gebrselassie told German television just minutes after crossing the finishing line with a big smile on his face.
"Thank you to the people of Germany."
Gebrselassie received 50,000 euros for winning the race and a 50,000-euro bonus for the world record, on top of a reported 250,000-euro ($354,525) appearance fee.
Weather conditions were ideal for Gebrselassie with very little wind and overcast skies for most of the race. The sun broke through the clouds towards the end of the race, bringing the temperature up to 16 Celcius (60 F).
"Today it was perfect," he said, delighted that forecasts of a chance of rain were proved wrong.
"It was a little bit windy, but perfect. The audience, the spectators were great."
Abel Kirui of Kenya was second in 2:06.51 while compatriot Salim Kipsang was third in 2:07.29.
Gete Wami of Ethiopia won the women's race in a time of 2:23.17.
Gebrselassie had won Olympic 10,000-meter gold medals in 1996 and 2000, narrowly beating Tergat both times in memorable races.
He had been eager to beat Tergat's marathon world record in Berlin and came close last year before fading at the finish.
On Sunday, Gebrselassie got off to a fast start and was already 32 seconds inside Tergat's pace at the 10-kilometer mark.
He maintained that margin through the half-marathon point, clocking 62.29 to Tergat's 63.01, and at 30 kilometers when the last two of his five pacesetters retired.
Gebrselassie had tried to beat Tergat's record last year in Berlin and was on track until late in the race before falling a heartbreaking 61 seconds short.
He had faded in the final six kilometers in the face of difficult headwinds but this year he focused on endurance training, and organizers made sure there were enough pacesetters to take him through the 30-kilometer point.
It was the third time the men's world record was set on the flat Berlin circuit, where the enthusiastic crowds and fairly reliable weather conditions are also credited with helping to make it fast.
There have also been two women's marathon records set in Berlin, where the course winds through nine districts of the German capital and has a total inclination of just 30 meters.
It was the 25th world mark for Gebrselassie, who has held records at distances ranging from 3,000 meters to the marathon. He won four successive world titles over 10,000 meters before turning to road racing.
adidas runners make it a 1-2 finish!!!
1) Haile Gebrselassie
2) Abel Kirui
2) Abel Kirui
