Samuel Kosgei and Mary Keitany with double world record at BIG 25 in Berlin

May 9, 2010

The Kenyans Samuel Kosgei and Mary Keitany wrote history in the 30th edition of the BIG 25 in Berlin. Never before a world record was set in mens and womens category in the same road race!

In the best 25K-race ever, the top athletes used the perfect weather conditions of 12-14°C with practically no winds and overcast sky.

In the mens race a big pack of around 20 athletes passed the 5K-mark in 14:29min. After that the pace remained high and the field was reduced step-by-step until kilometer 15 (43:05min). At this point the race was down to a battle between Samuel Kosgei and Gilbert Kirwa (both Kenya). At the end it was Samuel Kosgei who had the best legs and improved the previous world record (1:12:45h, Paul Kosgei in Berlin 2009) by almost one minute to 1:11:50h. Also Gilbert Kirwa broke the previous record by clocking 1:11:58h for second place. The podium was completed by Terefe Maregu (Eth) in 1:13:16h. Altogether nine athletes ran sub-1:15h.

The womens race was dominated by pre-race favorite Mary Keitany. The dominating female road racer of 2009 ran her own race and smashed the previous world record (1:22:13, Mizuki Noguchi in Berlin 2005). Led by two pacemakers she was on course for a sub-1:20h time all the way and crossed the finish line after 1:19:53h. Around five minutes later Alice Timbilili (1:24:38) and Pasalia Kipkoech (both Kenya/1:26:47) came home for 2nd and 3rd place.

Results were published already earlier here.