Kotut happy to break Kipchoge’s record in Hamburg

Former Paris Marathon champion (2016) Cybrian Kotut ran a tactical race at the 2022 Haspa Marathon Hamburg, clocking 2:04.47 in a violent finish to break the course record that has stood since 2013. 

The 29-year-old edged Uganda's Stephen Kissa who was making his debut in the classic distance by just a second as he went on to break Eliud Kipchoge’s record of 2:05.30, a mark that has stood the test for nine years. 

Ethiopia’s Workineh Tadesse came in third place with 2:05:07 which was also faster than the previous course record. 

"I am very happy that I broke the course record. The pacemakers covered me well from the wind. It was not easy with the wind, but overall the conditions were very good," said Kotut.

Things looked a lot closer from the beginning. 17 men passed the 10km mark in 29:29. A major surge came late in the race with only four kilometres to go. Kotut and Kissa broke away from the leading group which included six runners at that point. 

Both delivered a stunning showdown right to the finish line. In the final sprint Kotut pushed himself to the close victory as all medalists ran within Kipchoge's record set as he made his marathon debut. 

The fastest German runner was Florian Röser. He ran a solid marathon debut in 2:15:03. "I am very surprised to be the fastest German athlete. The race was not ideal for me but considering that this was my debut it was good," he said.

In the women's race Yalemzerf Yehualaw won the race, producing a sensational marathon debut. 

The 22 year-old Ethiopian clocked 2:17:23 which is the fastest time by a debutant ever. So far Paula Radcliffe’s time of 2:18:56 from London in 2002 was the fastest debut time by a woman.

Yehualaw became the sixth fastest woman in the history of marathon running, broke the course record and set a German Allcomer record. Fikrte Wereta took second in 2:26:15 and Bone Cheluke made it an all-Ethiopian podium with 2:26:23 for third place. 

Yehualaw dominated the race from the beginning and constantly increased her lead. She ran past the half marathon mark in a super fast 68:30. At this point she was already over two and a half minutes ahead.

At the end of the race the gap between her and the second runner was almost nine minutes.

“The race went well for me considering this was my first marathon. The fast Hamburg course suited me and the spectators helped me a lot," said the winner. 

She was around four and a half minutes faster than former course record holder Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia at 2:21:54 set in 2016. Additionally she broke the German Allcomers record of Kenya’s Gladys Cherono who ran 2:18:11 in Berlin in 2018.

 Results

 Men

1. Cybrian Kotut KEN 2:04:47

2. Stephen Kissa UGA 2:04:48

3. Workineh Tadesse ETH 2:05:07

4. Victor Kiplangat UGA 2:05:09

5. Abebe Negewo ETH 2:06:05

6. Masresha Bere ETH 2:06:44

7. Edwin Kiptoo KEN 2:06:52

8. Abraham Kiptoo KEN 2:06:59

9. Bazewe Asmare ETH 2:07:13

10. Bernard Ngeno KEN 2:07:27

Women 

1. Yalemzerf Yehualaw ETH 2:17:13

2. Fikrte Wereta ETH 2:26:15

3. Bone Cheluke ETH 2:26:23

4. Tseginesh Mekonnen ETH 2:26:29

5. Kristina Hendel CRO 2:27:29

6. Priscah Jeptoo KEN 2:28:48

7. Rosa Chacha ECU 2:28:52

8. Gadise Mulu ETH 2:28:37

9. Deborah Schöneborn GER 2:29:51

10. Jana Soethout GER 2:34:28