Bekele breaks Paris Marathon course record

dazzled in the city of light on Sunday morning, winning the Paris Marathon in a course record time.

The current 5,000m and 10,000m world record holder on the track delivered one of the finest marathon debuts of all-time, winning in 2:05:02. The previous course record was 2:05:12. His time makes Bekele the fifth fastest debut at 42.2K. Dennis Kimetto’s 2:04:15 in Berlin in 2012 stands as the fastest first marathon ever.

Fastest debut marathons ever

Dennis Kimetto 2:04:15 (Berlin 2012)

Ayele Abshero 2:04:23 (Dubai 2012)

Lelisa Desisa 2:04:45 (Dubai 2012)

Bernard Koech 2:04:53 (Dubai 2013)

Kenenisa Bekele 2:05:02 (Paris 2014)

There was much hype surrounding Bekele’s run in Paris. Before he announced that he’d be running in France for his debut there was much speculation that he’d square off against Mo Farah at this year’s London Marathon. But it appears that the Ethiopian legend made the right decision to debut first.

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Comparing Bekele and Farah

Now the running world will focus on Farah, who has had a similarly impressive career on the track. Some of the greatest marathoners have come from the track, but many also fail to transition into a career of distance road running. Farah will be in tough in London, facing world record holder Wilson Kipsang as well as Geoffrey Mutai, who ran the fastest marathon of all-time on a non-record eligible course in Boston in 2011.

Bekele played it smart in Paris, staying with a group that went through the first half in a brisk 1:02:09. Then the pace began to slow. That’s when he took over the race, disposing of the pacemakers at about 1:20 and going alone. He ratcheted up the pace, dropping fellow countryman Limenih Geachew and Kenyan Luka Kanda, who would place second and third respectively (2:06:49 and 2:08:02).

It was a risky move for someone who’d never raced more than a half-marathon before, but Bekele looked focused and strong all the way to the finish near the Arc de Triomphe. He even mustered up the strength to throw in a sprint at the end, hoping to dip below 2:05 for his debut. Although he missed the mark by two seconds, Bekele’s debut is a clear signal that he’s now a serious player on the marathon scene.

In the women’s race Kenyan Flomena Cheyech won comfortably in 2:22:44, well over a minute in front of runner up Yebrgual Melese of Ethiopia (2::26:21). Ahmed Zemzem, also of Ethiopia, was third in 2:29:35.

Canadians may recognize Cheyech from her win at the 2013 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, where she won in 2:25:12.

Men’s Top Results
1     02:05:03     1     BEKELE     Kenenisa
2     02:06:48     7     GETACHEW     Limenih
3     02:07:59     8     KANDA     Luka
4     02:08:46     12     KWAMBAI     Robert
5     02:09:03     18     LIMO     Jackson
6     02:10:34     9     KIPKETER     Gideon
7     02:10:57     10     KIGEN     Mike
8     02:13:23     21     BEHAILU     Ketema
9     02:13:57     2     KIPTOO     Mark
10     02:15:34     17     EZZOBAYRY     Ahmed

Women’s Top Results
1    2:22:41    CHEYECH    Flomena
2    2:26:18    MELESE    Yebrgual
3    2:29:34    ZEMZEM    Ahmed
4    2:31:57    CHEMAOI    Faith
5    2:36:24    GODANA DERBE    Gebisse
6    2:36:31    KOMU    Martha
7    2:38:10    KIROS    Aheza
8    2:39:20    PICOCHE    Laurane
9    2:40:18    ARKHIPOVA    Yulia
10    2:41:29    DILLEN    Kim