World marathon record for Dennis Kimetto in Berlin

Kenya's Dennis Kimetto has broken the marathon world record in Berlin, winning the race in a time of two hours, two minutes and 57 seconds.

The 30-year-old broke away in a seven-man group that included fellow Kenyans Emmanuel Mutai and Geoffrey Kamworor.

He shook off Mutai with just under three miles remaining to become the first man to run a marathon in less than two hours and three minutes.

"I feel good because I won a very tough race," said Kimetto.

"I felt good from the start and in the last few miles I felt I could do it and break the record."

Men's marathon world record decade-by-decade
Year	Time	Athlete	Course
1947	2:25.39	Suh Yun-bok (Korea)	Boston
1958	2:15.17	Sergei Popov (Soviet Union)	Stockholm
1969	2:08.33	Derek Clayton (Australia)	Antwerp
1988	2:06.50	Belayneh Dinsamo (Ethiopia)	Rotterdam
1999	2:05.42	Khalid Khannouchi (Morocco)	Chicago
2008	2:03.59	Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia)	Berlin
2014	2:02.57	Dennis Kimetto (Kenya)	Berlin

The previous world record had been set on the same course 12 months ago by Kimetto's compatriot Wilson Kipsang, who ran 2:03:23.

Kimetto, who won marathons in Tokyo and Boston last year, had promised to attack the record in Berlin if conditions allowed.

And in weather perfect for long-distance running, with temperatures around eight degrees centigrade, Kimetto kept his promise, staying in the lead group throughout and sprinting to victory and a new world's best time.