3 Oct 2012

Mutai wins Berlin marathon

6:14 am on 3 October 2012

The Kenyan runner Geoffrey Mutai has won the Berlin marathon, surviving a brave challenge by compatriot and marathon newcomer Dennis Kimetto but narrowly failing in his quest to set a new world record.

Mutai's time of two hours four minutes and 15 seconds - on what is considered the fastest marathon course in the world - was more than half-a-minute off Patrick Makau's world record of two hours three minutes 38 seconds set in the German capital last year.

Kenya swept the podium spots with another marathon debutant, Geoffrey Kipsang, finishing in third place a minute and 57 seconds behind the winner.

In the women's race Ethiopia clinched a one-two double with pre-race favourite Aberu Kebede winning her second Berlin marathon after 2010 with a time of two hours 20 minutes and 30 seconds.

Her training partner Tirfi Tsegaye was second with Ukraine's Olena Shurhno third.