Tergat breaks frontiers

ATHLETICS / Berlin Marathon: Marathon running took another quantum leap in Berlin yesterday when Paul Tergat, previously the nearly man at the distance, cracked the two-hour five-minute barrier with a staggering time of 2:04:55.

It knocked 43 seconds off the previous world best of 2:05:38, set by America's Khalid Khannouchi in London in April of last year.

Incredibly, it was Tergat's first win in a marathon after five attempts, all of which had ended narrowly outside the world best, and had made the former five-time World Cross Country champion the fastest marathoner of all-time to never win at the distance.

Yesterday's ground-breaking run, however, ensured that Tergat now becomes the first Kenyan man to hold the marathon world best since the official figures began back in 1908 with American Johnny Hayes, who ran 2:55:18.

In a race worthy of a world best performance, Tergat was made to work every step of the way by fellow Kenyan Sammy Korir, who had in fact started as one of the pacemakers.

The two were stride for stride for the last mile before Tergat eventually found the extra reserves to edge himself in front at the finish at the Brandenburg Gate, and claim the win by a single second. Korir was still rewarded with the second fastest time in history, 2:04:56.

Another Kenyan, Titus Munji, took third in 2:06:15, and there was also a remarkable run by the fourth place finisher Andreas Espinosa of Mexico. Now aged 40, Espinosa's time of 2:08:46 will stand as a world veterans' record, destroying the old mark of New Zealander John Campbell, who ran 2:11:04.

Ireland's Martin McCarthy fell well short of his pre-race target - the 2:12 flat that would have ensured his selection for next year's Athens Olympics. In what was his first marathon, McCarthy had to be content with a 2:18:45 clocking, and which left him a long way back in 27th place.

Despite his exhaustive preparations, McCarthy just didn't have the legs to go with such a searing pace. His finishing time, though, was still the best by an Irishman since Mark Carroll's 2:10:54 in New York last November.

For Tergat, aged 34, a place in marathon history is now reserved. Over a million spectators had lined the Berlin course to witness his achievement.

"I am simply overwhelmed," he said afterwards. "I want to thank my wife, my manager and the organisers who all supported me to make this possible."

Though the famous Berlin course had been slightly altered from previous years, it proved no less suitable for 26.2-mile running, and Tergat was also aided by perfect running conditions of ideal temperatures and no wind.

The women's winner was Yasuko Hashimoto in 2:26:32, in what was the fourth victory in a row for Japan after the two wins of Naoko Takahashi and, previously, Kazumi Matsuo.

RESULTS

Men: 1 Paul Tergat (Ken) 2hrs 4mins 55secs (WR), 2 Sammy Korir (Ken) 2:04:56, 3 Titus Munji (Ken) 2:06:15. Women: L 1 Yasuko Hashimoto (Japan) 2:26:32, 2 Emily Kimuria (Kenya) 2:28:18, 3 Ornella Ferrara (Italy) 2:28:28.