Kenya’s Patrick Makau set a new world record in the marathon yesterday winning the Berlin Marathon in an official time of 2hr 03min 38sec.

The 26-year-old defending champion smashed the old mark of 2hr 03:59 set by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie in the same race in 2008.

Gebrselassie had a torrid time failing to finish, just as he did in New York last November, after being prominent up to the 35km mark.

Makau led home a Kenyan 1-2-3 with one of the six designated pacemakers for the event Stephen Kwelio Chemlany taking second in 2hr 07:55 while Edwin Kimaiyo was third finishing in 2hr 09:50.

Makau said he hadn’t expected to set a new world record when he woke up.

“I didn’t feel very well when I woke up this morning,” said Makau, who showed he was a force in the event last year with two victories, in Berlin and in Rotterdam.

“But once the race got underway everything went well.

“At the 25km mark, I felt then I could break the world record.

“It is the most beautiful day of my career and, if God so wishes it, I will be Olympic champion next year.”

Makau upped the pace dramatically at the 27km mark which left Gebrselassie trailing.

The Ethiopian, 38, was clearly in trouble and stopped briefly on the side of the route visibly exhausted before resuming but his race was up and just as in New York (where he was so disappointed he announced he was retiring) did not have the power to finish.

Gebrselassie had vowed before this race that he wanted to post a really fast time to obtain his qualifying time for the next year’s Olympics in London.

Kenya’s Florence Kiplagat later won the women’s race in only her second race over the distance.

The 24-year-old – whose previous effort had seen her fail to finish in Boston in April – timed 2hr 19 min 43 sec.

Kiplagat came home ahead of Germany’s Irina Mikitenko while there was an impressive return for third-placed world record holder Paula Radcliffe, of England, who was running her first marathon in almost two years.

Radcliffe, who will be 38 in November, had mixed emotions after the race.

“I am happy and disappointed at the same time after this third place,” said Radcliffe, whose sole global title came in this event at the 2005 world championships.

“But I have at least achieved the qualifying time for the London Olympics which is the essential thing,” added Radcliffe, who will be seeking to make it third time lucky at the Olympic marathon after failing to finish in 2004 and was 23rd in Beijing four years later.

Marathon record timeline