BBC SPORT | Athletics | Takahashi defends Berlin title

Japan's Olympic champion Naoko Takahashi won the Berlin marathon for the second successive year, with Raymond Kipkoech leading a trio of Kenyans over the finish line in the men's race.

Takahashi, who became the first Japanese woman to win an Olympic track and field event with her record-breaking marathon gold in Sydney, defended her title in a time of two hours 21 minutes 48 seconds.

Women's top 10

1. N. Takahashi (Jap) 2:21:49

2. A. Fernandez (Mex) 2:24:11

3. H. Kimutai (Ken) 2:28:10

4. S. Gemechu (Eth) 2:28:15

5. A. Buia (Rom) 2:32:47

6. Z. Dahmani (Fra) 2:34:15

7. J. Lodge (GB) 2:34:17

8. K. Wessel (Ger) 2:38:35

9. G. Gonzalez (Spa) 2:38:38

10. C. Doellinger (Ger) 2:39:37

The time was two minutes slower than the world record she set in Berlin last year, although the 30-year-old has been out for most of the year through injury.

But it was nevertheless the 13th fastest time in history and Takahashi's personal third best, one second behind her Asian Games winning time of 1998 in Bangkok.

Takahashi smashes marathon mark

"Obviously I wasn't in the physcial condition of last year but halfway through the race I began to feel better and better and I could run at my rythmn," said Takahashi.

"I had a calf problem at the beginning of September and couldn't train as hard as I wanted, so I didn't even consider the world record, I just wanted to win."

Adriana Fernandez of Mexico, who led Takahashi until the 25th kilometre, finished second in two hours 24 minutes nine seconds, with Helen Kimutai of Kenya third.

Raymond Kipkoech led a Kenyan 1-2-3

Kipkoech's time of two hours six minutes 47 seconds shaved four minutes off his previous best and edged out his compatriot Simon Biwott by just two seconds.

Vincent Kipsos made a late surge in the final metres to finish third, ahead of ahead of fellow Kenyans Boniface Usisivu and Jimmy Muindi, in fourth and fifth respectively.

The top three broke away from the leading group which included last year's winner Joseph Ngolepus of Kenya, some 7km from the line.

Kipkoech, from the village of Kapsait, situated at 3,000 metres altitude near the Ugandan border, only began running two years ago and secured a place in the Berlin race the week before the event.

Men's top 10

1. R. Kipkoech (Ken) 2:06:47

2. S. Biwott (Ken) 2:06:49

3. V. Kisos (Ken) 2:06:53

4. B. Usisivu (Ken) 2:07:51

5. J. Muindi (Ken) 2:08:24

6. K. Matsuda (Jap) 2:10:30

7. J.E. Palalia (Mex) 2:10.38

8. M. Tanui (Ken) 2:10:39

9. E. Mutai (Ken) 2:10:41

10. M. Yatich (Ken) 2:10:56

The wins earned Takahashi and Kipkoech 30,000 euros each.

Both athletes also pocket bonuses, with the Japansese runner staying below 2 hours 23 minutes and the Kenyan going under the 2 hour 7 minute mark.

The 29th Berlin marathon attracted a record number of entries with 48,599 athletes competing with over one million spectators.

However, a 40-year-old competitor died after suffering a heart attack one kilometre from the finishing line.


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