Ethiopia’s Assefa breaks women’s marathon world record

Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa smashed the women’s marathon world record by more than two minutes in Berlin on Sunday as Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge won the men’s race for a record fifth time.

Assefa clocked 2hr 11min 53sec, more than two minutes ahead of the previous world mark of 2:14:04 set by Kenyan Brigid Kosgei in Chicago in 2019.

“I wanted to break the marathon world record, but I couldn’t imagine that it would result in a time under 2:12,” said the 29-year-old.

“I am very happy.”

She finished almost six minutes ahead of Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui, while Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri finished third, nearly seven minutes behind Assefa.

Assefa broke away early in perfect conditions in the German capital and continued her stunning time to become the first woman to set the world record in Berlin since Japan’s Naoko Takahashi in 2001.

She crossed the line just after men’s world record holder Kipchoge won his race in 2hr 02min 42sec.