Makau sets new marathon record in Berlin

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Makau sets new marathon record in Berlin 25/09/11 310 Views No Comments Share1 Tweet2 Image: Michael Sohn/AP/Press Association Images HAILE GEBRSELASSIE LOST the race against time on Sunday when Patrick Makau shattered his marathon world record and ended an era of two decades dominated by arguably the greatest distance runner in history. His lungs seizing up and struggling for air after more than 17 miles of the Berlin Marathon, Gebrselassie finally quit shortly after mile 21. By then, Makau was more than two minutes ahead on his own and on the way to the German capitalÃÔ landmark Brandenburg Gate and a new world record. Ū was hoping to gain a lot of experience but not to win, Makau said after slashing 21 seconds from GebrselassieÃÔ old mark. Makau pulled away after 16 miles and finished in 2 hours, 3 minutes, 38 seconds. Gebrselassie, whose previous record stood at 2:03.59, pulled up after MakauÃÔ breakaway and seemed on the verge of giving up when he stopped running and bent over, holding his chest. After about a minute, he resumed the race. Å©e was still feeling good at 25K but then his lungs started tightening up, he could not breathe, we donÃÕ know why, GebrselassieÃÔ agent Jos Hermens told the Associated Press. Gebrselassie suffers from asthma and is allowed to take medicine to treat the condition, but hadnÃÕ taken any because he had not had any problems for months, Hermens said. Å®aybe this was a mistake, but he felt fine before, his preparation was good, Hermens added. ŵhis is not the end of Haile, but this is the end of an era. Gebrselassie had won four successive Berlin marathons from 2006 and set his world record in 2008. The 38-year-old pulled out of the New York City Marathon in November with a knee injury and retired immediately after the race but changed his mind eight days later. His main objective in Berlin was to run a good time and qualify for EthiopiaÃÔ Olympic team. Stephen Kwelio Chemplany, a pacemaker from Kenya, finished second in 2:07.55, and another Kenyan, Edwin Kimaiyo, was third in 2:09.50. Florence Kiplagat of Kenya won the womenÃÔ race in 2:19.44 to complete her first marathon, ahead of Irina Mikitenko of Germany and world record holder Paula Radcliffe of Britain, who was competing for the first time since finishing fourth in New York in 2009 and secured qualification for the 2012 Olympics in the process. http://www.thescore.ie/makau-sets-new-marathon-record-in-berlin-236514-Sep2011/