Tergat shatters world record
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See the article in its original context from September 2003.
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That eclipsed the 2:05:38 set by Moroccan-born American Khalid Khannouchi on April 14, 2002 in London by 43 seconds.
Tergat finished just one second ahead of pacemaker Sammy Korir, who made a late charge at his countryman after falling back over the final mile. The two matched stride for stride through much of the race.
But Tergat, often second in big races, kept Korir on his shoulder and threw up his arms in triumph as he broke the tape after going through the huge pillars of the historic Brandenburg gate. Afterwards, he hugged his wife Monica in joy.
``This time I wanted to try for the record. I'm very happy," Tergat said. Titus Munji, Tergat's second pacemaker, finished third in 2:06:15.
Yasuko Hashimoto captured the women's race in 2:26:32, the fourth straight for a Japanese runner. Kenya's Emily Kimuria was second in 2:28:18, 10 seconds ahead of Italy's Ornella Ferrara. Hashimoto, running just her third marathon, took the lead for good over the final third of the race when Prague winner Russian Alina Ivanova faded.
When Khannouchi ran his record race in London, Terat again was second, 10 seconds behind the American. That upset me a little at the time. I feel lucky that I could take away the record today - I focused my whole preparation on that," Tergat said. It was the Kenyan's first marathon triumph in six tries, despite owning two of the fastest times in history coming into Berlin.
There was a big buzz before the race about the men's record falling this year in Berlin. In recent years, the world's best mark had been broken three times on the flat fast course.
Tergat was regarded as the leading candidate as a five-time cross country world champion who owns two Olympic silvers in the 10,000 meters.
He also has set the world best in the half-marathon at 59:06, but his achievements were overshadowed by his famous seconds. The London loss to Khannouchi followed twice being beaten by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie at the Olympics. On a cool, cloudy morning with hardly a breeze, Tergat and his two pacemakers ran the first half in a fast 1:03:01 through the streets of Berlin. Then they began to pick up the pace.
With a third of the race left, the threesome were running at a 2:04 pace. Munji fell back, but over the final few miles, it was clear the record would be snapped by Tergat or Korir, barring a collapse by both Kenyans.
