Makau wins Berlin Marathon

BERLIN, Sep 26 - Kenyan Patrick Makau won Sunday's rainswept Berlin Marathon in 2hr 05min 08sec, 2sec ahead of compatriot Geoffrey Mutai, with Ethiopia's Bazu Worku completing the podium a further 15sec adrift.

The adverse weather meant Makau, who has the season's world leading time over the 42km race (2:04.48), was never in a position to launch an assault on Haile Gebrselassie's world record of 2:03.59 set on the same course in 2008.

Nevertheless, Makau's time was the third fastest of the year in a field that did not feature Gebrselassie, who competed in last weekend's Great North Run in preparation for the New York Marathon on November 17.

The women's race was won by Ethiopian Aberu Kebede in 2:23.58 ahead of compatriot Bezunesh Bekele and Japan's Tomo Morimoto.

The 25-year-old Makau's world record charge petered out relatively early in the race.

After 20km, the bunch of favourites were already 20sec off Gebrselassie's time and Makau clocked 1:02.36 at the halfway point, 30sec adrift.

The second half of the race saw Makau, who won the Rotterdam marathon in April, focusing on ensuring the victory in a city where he had previously won two 25km races and two half-marathons.

"Berlin is my city," Makau said. "Each time I come here, I win. However, the weather conditions were really too tough to go for the record."

Results

Men

1. Patrick Makau (KEN) 2hr 05min 08sec, 2. Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) at 0.02sec, 3. Bazu Worku (ETH) 0.17, 4. Yemane Tsegay (KEN) 2.44, 5. Eliud Kiptanui (ETH) 2:57, 6. Bernard Kipyego (KEN) 3.42, 7. Tadese Abraham (ERI) 4.16, 8. Gilbert Yegon (KEN) 5.26, 9. Masakazu Fujiwara (JPN) 6.52, 10. Ser-Od bat-Otchir (MGL) 7.34

Women

1. Aberu Kebede (ETH) 2:23.58, 2. Bezunesh Bekele (ETH) at 1.00, 3. Tomo Morimoto (JPN) 2.12, 4. Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) 2.23, 5. Olena Burkovska (UKR) 4.33