October 1, 2007	Monday	Ramazan 18, 1428

BERLIN, Sept 30: Haile Gebrselassie broke the marathon world record Sunday, winning the Berlin Marathon in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 26 seconds.

The 34-year-old Ethiopian was 29 seconds faster than the four-year-old mark of 2:04:55 set by Kenya’s Paul Tergat, on the German capital’s flat and fast course where six world records have been set. Gete Wami, also from Ethiopia, defended her title in the women’s race in 2:23:17.

Gebrselassie trailed the record mark by six seconds at the halfway point, but picked up the pace over the last 10 kilometers (six miles), when he ran alone without pacemakers.

He ran through the giant pillars of the Brandenburg Gate in downtown Berlin and broke into a smile over the final meters (yards) as it became clear he would accomplish the feat on his second try in Berlin.

Then he threw his arms up in triumph as he broke the tape.

“Don’t ask me how I am,” Gebrselassie said. “It’s very special, spectacular.”

This was the 25th world record for the two-time Olympic 10,000-meter champion, and the sixth time the marathon world record has been broken in Berlin.

Two Kenyans finished second and third, with Abel Kirui clocking 2:06:51 and Salim Kipsang running 2:07:29.—AP