Smashing the world record in sensational style and breaking the 2:03 marathon barrier in the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON, Dennis Kimetto has also taken the lead in the current World Marathon Majors (WMM) Series 2013-2014. The Kenyan clocked 2:02:57.
With two races to go Kimetto now has 75 points from his three wins in Tokyo and Chicago 2013 as well as in Sunday's Berlin WMM event. However, the 30 year-old Kimetto, who burst into the international road running scene only two and a half years ago, has not yet won the WMM Series and the 500,000 Dollar prize purse that comes with it.
Dennis Kimetto finally showed his full potential in the marathon in Berlin. In superb weather conditions he passed the half way mark in a leading group in 61:45. With four kilometres to go he opened a decisive gap on his strongest rival, fellow-Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai.
Kimetto's world record victory gained him 25 points for the WMM Series. Runner-up Mutai, who clocked 2:03:13 and was ten seconds inside the former world record of fellow-Kenyan Wilson Kipsang, collected 15 points in Berlin. His total of 45 points has taken him to fourth in the WMM Series.
While the elite men in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on 12th October will have no chance of taking the WMM Series 2013-2014 it is a different story in the final race, the TCS New York City Marathon on 2nd November. It is the former world record holder Wilson Kipsang who could still overtake Dennis Kimetto.
However Kimetto put maximum pressure on Kipsang, since only a win in New York will secure the series for him. Kipsang is third with 51 points. Second-placed Ethiopian Tsegaye Kebede missed the opportunity of collecting points in Berlin with a ninth place finish and remains on 55 points.
The women's race of the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON had no influence on the lead in the WMM Series 2013-2014. Berlin's Ethiopian winner Tirfi Tsegaye clocked a world lead of 2:20:18 and is now in third position with 51 points. The Kenyans Rita Jeptoo (75 points) and Edna Kiplagat (65) have a solid lead. Jeptoo will run in Chicago and could secure the $500,000 payday with a win.
If Jeptoo fails to gain a victory, Kiplagat could still take the series in New York.
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