Tigist Assefa ran ME pace on Sunday.
Tigist Assefa ran a wild ME time on Sunday in Berlin. EPA / AOP
– It’s quite overwhelming.
This is how Iltalehti’s athletics expert sums it up Arto Bryggare Sunday’s spree at the Berlin Marathon.
Tigist Assefa arrived at the finish line in a world record time of 2.11.53. The improvement on the old ME time run four years ago in Chicago was more than two minutes.
– Assefa has been training hard and high since he was young, Bryggare knows.
– It looked as if he was immediately ready for another marathon. The fatigue only lasted about five seconds.
Assefa ran the second half four seconds faster than the first.
– It’s a tough trick in a marathon.
Bryggare cites the excellent conditions and the perfect track and, above all, Adidas’ new running shoe as the reasons for Roima’s record improvement.
– It can be felt that tool development has taken another step forward, he says.
– The shoe weighs a little over 100 grams. They say 500 pairs have been made. Adidas claims that the center of gravity of the boot has been moved a bit back, which apparently gives better rolling properties.
Section 2.10 broken?
Arto Bryggare is Iltalehti’s athletics expert. PASI LEISMA
Going into this millennium, the women’s world record was 2:20:43. In just over 20 years, almost nine minutes have been cut from the time.
Assefa, 26, is a former 800 meter runner. Sunday’s marathon was only his third.
– I don’t think it’s impossible that in the next few years someone will run under 2:10 even in the women’s category, Bryggare said.
– The women’s record is approaching the men’s record. It has been argued that the marathon is the distance where the physical differences between men and women are closest to each other.
The men’s marathon world record is Eliud Kipchogen a year ago in Berlin on 2.01.09. He was also number one on Sunday with the fifth fastest time of all time, 2.02.42.
“It seems to be the only one”
Berlin’s traditional and prize-winning marathon has been running since 1974.
– These supermarathons absorb the superrunners with significant winnings and conditions from the hellemarathons (of the prestigious competitions), Bryggare states.
– Of the championship marathons, the Olympic ones seem to be the only one that interests the top athletes.