Eliud Kipchoge wins record fifth Berlin Marathon

Multiple Olympic champion and world-record holder Eliud Kipchoge has won the Berlin Marathon for a record fifth time, crossing the line in 2:02:42 in the German capital on Sunday.

Kipchoge's fifth win takes him past Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie's four victories.

Despite cruising to victory, Kipchoge admitted to having picked lessons from the race given that he came under immense pressure in the closing stages of the race from debutant Vicent Kipkemoi, who appeared to be closing in fast.

“I have won, but I have learned some lessons. Every race comes with some lessons. I want to put all the experiences I have gained together and go for a third Olympic title,” he said moments after the race.

From the onset, you could tell Kipchoge was in for serious business as he covered the first 5km in 14:12.

At the ten-kilometer mark, Ethiopian Derseh Kindie tried to pull an early surprise as he overtook Kipchoge after timing 42:45 while the former clocked 42:46.

Kindie, who led Kipchoge for the better part of the first half of the race, looked comfortable throughout and was even thought to be tactically smart enough and sparing energy to upset the Kenyan.

However, that was not going to be as he withdrew from the race after 32 kilometres leaving Kipchoge on a clear pathway to his fifth title as the chasing pack was nowhere to be seen.

Over 500 athletes confirm Eldoret City Marathon participation- Moses Tanui

With no opposition in sight, the four-time London Marathon champion was racing against the clock, but signs of fatigue and a grimace on his face could be seen, and with that, the hopes of a new world record went up in the smoke.

What looked like a comfortable lead for Kipchoge lasted up to the 40th kilometer mark as Kipkemboi tried to close the gap, but his late surge couldn’t guarantee him the top spot as the former held on to claim victory.

Kipchoge first stood on the start line in Berlin a decade ago when he came home second behind a world record-setting Wilson Kipsang in 2013.

Since then, it has been Kipchoge who has made the race his own, winning four titles and breaking the world record on two occasions on the famously rapid course that makes up one-sixth of the annual marathon.

All systems go as the Kisumu City Road run takes centre stage.

Kipkemoi finished second in 2:03:13, as Ethiopia's Tadese Takele who was also on his debut, completed the podium in 2:03:24.

Amos Kipruto, the 2022 London Marathon champion, faded to finish seventh in 2:04:49.