Gebrselassie breaks marathon world record

Haile Gebrselassie from Ethiopia
celebrates after winning the men's
competition of the 35th Berlin Marathon
in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 28,
2008

28 September, 2008

BERLIN (AP) - Haile Gebrselassie broke his own marathon world record on Sunday, becoming the first runner to finish under 2 hours, 4 minutes.

The Ethiopian clocked 2:03:59 in winning his third straight Berlin Marathon, beating the mark of 2:04:26 he set last year over the same flat course.

Gebrselassie also became the first runner to win the Berlin race three times.

Running under clear, sunny skies in mild temperatures, Gebrselassie paced himself well and controlled the race from the start.

The 35-year-old Ethiopian was way out front as he passed through the Brandenburg Gate and ran to the finish line to applause from the crowd lining the route.

"Today, I'm so, so, so happy. Everything was perfect today," he told Berlin television shortly after crossing the line.

In the buildup to the race, Gebrselassie said, "I had a small calf muscle problem and I stopped for a week, and then I started again a week ago. Then today I had, you know, some doubts ... but it was really very good."

"Before I came here, I knew I can do something here in Berlin, because since I started running Berlin is my lucky city."