BERLIN, Germany, October 30 – Wilson Kipsang came within just three seconds of the five-week old world marathon record on Sunday when he won the Frankfurt race in a time of 2:03:41.
The 28-year-old took the Frankfurt title for the second year running and his time, the second fastest in history, was just outside the world record of two hours 3:38 set by compatriot Patrick Makau in Berlin on September 25.
Kipsang’s victory means for the last ten years Kenyans have won the Frankfurt marathon, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary and is Germany’s oldest city marathon.
According to IAAF website, Kipsang was watching television back home in Kenya when he saw compatriot Patrick Makau break the Marathon World record in Berlin and he thought to himself, “I can do that”.
“I have three goals,” he said. “To set a personal best (then 2:07:10), to break the course record (then 2:06:14), and to break 2:06.” Good as his word, Kipsang went out and ran 2:04:57, the third fastest of the year, and the eighth best in history he said last year.
“One of the expectations is to run a personal best; the other is to break the World record.” He told reporters before the race.
