A spectacular 2:05:06 course record for Geoffrey Mutai in New York (© Getty Images)
Geoffrey Mutai, who produced the fastest Marathon ever last year in Boston, will be returning to the BMW Berlin Marathon on 30 September.
In April 2011, Mutai of Kenya won the Boston Marathon in a time of 2:03:02, covering the 42.195 km distance faster than anyone in history. This time is not recognised as a World record because Boston’s 139-metre net drop does not conform to international road-running course standards. Six months after his victory in Boston, Mutai ran the ING New York City Marathon in 2:05:06, winning the race and crushing the former course record of 2:07:43 (2001).
The current World record stands at 2:03:38, set by Kenyan Patrick Makau at the Berlin Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, in 2011. Mutai ran the Berlin course in 2010, finishing only two seconds behind Makau in a fast 2:05:10 despite persistent rain throughout the race. Earlier that year, Mutai ran 2:04:55 to finish second in the Rotterdam Marathon again behind Makau.
“We are pleased to have Geoffrey Mutai run the BMW Berlin Marathon," said race director Mark Milde. "He is one of the best athletes in the world and will have the opportunity to prove it on the fast Berlin course.”
Surprisingly, Mutai was not nominated to participate in the Olympic marathon team in London. Makau was also sidelined. Mutai regards this decision as a challenge to run a strong race in Berlin.
“I am familiar with the Berlin course and know that you can run very fast here. If the weather is good, there is nothing in the way of a fast time,” said the Kenyan. His performance in a late-June 10 km road race showed him to be in top competitive form when he won the Boston race unchallenged in 27:29.
Organisers for the IAAF
In April 2011, Mutai of Kenya won the Boston Marathon in a time of 2:03:02, covering the 42.195 km distance faster than anyone in history. This time is not recognised as a World record because Boston’s 139-metre net drop does not conform to international road-running course standards. Six months after his victory in Boston, Mutai ran the ING New York City Marathon in 2:05:06, winning the race and crushing the former course record of 2:07:43 (2001).
The current World record stands at 2:03:38, set by Kenyan Patrick Makau at the Berlin Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, in 2011. Mutai ran the Berlin course in 2010, finishing only two seconds behind Makau in a fast 2:05:10 despite persistent rain throughout the race. Earlier that year, Mutai ran 2:04:55 to finish second in the Rotterdam Marathon again behind Makau.
“We are pleased to have Geoffrey Mutai run the BMW Berlin Marathon," said race director Mark Milde. "He is one of the best athletes in the world and will have the opportunity to prove it on the fast Berlin course.”
Surprisingly, Mutai was not nominated to participate in the Olympic marathon team in London. Makau was also sidelined. Mutai regards this decision as a challenge to run a strong race in Berlin.
“I am familiar with the Berlin course and know that you can run very fast here. If the weather is good, there is nothing in the way of a fast time,” said the Kenyan. His performance in a late-June 10 km road race showed him to be in top competitive form when he won the Boston race unchallenged in 27:29.
Organisers for the IAAF
