In an eventful weekend of racing, Tigist Assega made history in the female marathon running world, breaking the World Record in the Berlin Marathon. Here are the main highlights from the weekend:
Record-Breaking Performance in Berlin
Tigist Assega shattered the World Record in the Berlin Marathon, finishing in an astonishing time of 2:11:53. This not only broke the previous record set by Brigid Kosgei, but also surpassed the 2:14, 2:13, and 2:12 marks. It was an incredible feat considering this was only Assega’s third marathon, having previously competed in the 800m event at the Rio Olympics. She maintained a strong pace throughout the race, negative splitting the second half in 65:33. Assega’s achievement cannot be solely attributed to her footwear, although she was wearing the Adidas Adizero Adios Pro Evo 1, which has gained attention for its high price and environmental concerns.
Charlotte Purdue also had an impressive race, finishing ninth in 2:22:17 and setting a personal best. Her performance not only met the Olympic qualifying standard, but also moved her up to second on the British all-time list for the women’s marathon.
Louise Small, Anya Culling, and Sally O’Gorman also had strong showings, improving their personal bests and placing in the top 40 at the prestigious race.
Kipchoge’s Victory in Berlin
The focus before the Berlin Marathon was on Eliud Kipchoge, who was aiming for his fifth victory in the event and a potential World Record. Although he won the race with a time of 2:02:42, it fell short of his own previous record. Despite the fast opening pace, Kipchoge was unable to break the 2:02 mark. Nonetheless, his performance was still impressive, as he has now run twelve marathons under 2:03, the most by any runner.
Among the British runners, Weynay Ghebresilasie had a standout race, setting a personal best of 2:09:50. Alex Lepretre, Adam Clarke, and Ben Leaman also had solid performances.
Vitality 10,000 in London
While the attention was on Berlin, London hosted the Vitality 10,000 race. Although not attracting elite fields this year, the event still saw some fast times. Jack Rowe took the lead from the start and claimed the victory in a time of 28:13. This served as a warm-up for his upcoming participation in the World Road Running Championships. The women’s race saw Sonia Samuels finish first in a time of 33:01, improving her personal best.
Other Weekend Races
Alongside the Berlin Marathon and the Vitality 10,000, there were several other impressive performances in different 10k and half marathon races throughout the UK:
- Eleanor Baker achieved a personal best of 35:35 in the Sheffield 10k.
- Dillon Millard and Nicky Savill emerged as winners in the Taunton 10k.
- James Orrell and Michelle Prior took first place in the Cambridge Cambourne 10k.
- Richard Keep and Melody Kane crossed the line first at the Dartford 10k.
There were additional races in different locations, including Scotland and Wales, where many runners celebrated personal bests and victories.
Road Relays
One of the notable relay races was the Southern Relays, held in Aldershot. The senior men’s race was won by Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, while the women’s race was won by Aldershot, Farnham & District. Both teams put in impressive performances, with some runners posting the fastest times for their legs.