EVN (Sept 24) — Ethiopian athlete Tigist Assefa delivered a perfect performance at the Berlin Marathon, smashing the women’s marathon world record by more than two minutes on Sunday.
Tigist, who had previously secured the Berlin Marathon title, eclipsed the previous record held by Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei. Kosgei’s record of 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 4 seconds, was established at the 2019 Chicago Marathon.
The 29-year-old Ethiopian runner showcased her exceptional form by covering the first half of the race in an astonishing 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 20 seconds. As she continued her pace, she crossed the 30-kilometer mark in a time of 1 hour, 34 minutes, and 12 seconds, leaving no doubt that Kosgei’s record was in jeopardy.
Tigist ultimately completed the marathon in an astonishing 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds, securing her place in history and forever etching her name in the record books. Her performance shattered the previous world record, leaving it far behind in her wake.
The Berlin Marathon faced some disruptions as the environmental group Last Generation had expressed intentions to interfere with the event. However, police and security personnel successfully prevented any major disruptions, although some instances of orange paint vandalism occurred.
Tigist Assefa’s remarkable achievement not only secured her place as the women’s world record holder but also marked the first time a woman had set the world record in Berlin since Japan’s Naoko Takahashi achieved the feat in 2001.
Tigist’s journey from being a former 800m specialist to breaking the marathon world record in just over a year is a testament to her extraordinary talent and dedication. Her lightning-quick pace from the start and her consistent performance throughout the race underscore her exceptional endurance and running prowess.
In a marathon filled with historic moments, Tigst Assefa’s record-breaking run stands out as a defining achievement, solidifying her status as one of the world’s premier long-distance runners.
