BERLIN, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa shattered the women's marathon world record in Berlin on Sunday, lopping off more than two minutes from the previous best to clock an official time of two hours 11 minutes and 53 seconds.
"I knew I wanted to go for the world record but I never thought I would do this time," said the 26-year-old, a former 800-metre runner.
Her remarkable victory overshadowed men's world record holder Eliud Kipchoge's record fifth victory on Berlin's quick and flat inner-city course.
Compatriot Vincent Kipkemoi was second, with a time of two hours three minutes 13 seconds and Ethiopia's Tadese Takele third.
She had no problem maintaining her pace and at the 37km mark she was just three seconds per kilometre slower than Kipchoge's time at the same stage, cruising to a sensational world record.
Persons:
Assefa, lopping, pulverise Kenyan Brigid Kosgei's, Eliud, Kipchoge, Vincent Kipkemoi, Tadese, Workenesh Edesa, Sheila Chepkirui, Tanzania's Magdalena Shauri, Karolos Grohmann, Hugh Lawson
Organizations:
pulverise Kenyan, Ethiopian Olympic, National Committee, Climate, Thomson
Locations:
Berlin, Paris, Kenya