Kenya's Wilson Kipsang has broken the marathon world record in Berlin in a new official best time of 2 hours, 3 minutes and 23 seconds.

Previous world marathon records How the men's marathon world record has been lowered over the years:



1969 - Derek Clayton (AUS) 2:08:33, Antwerp, Belgium 1981 - Rob de Castella (AUS) 2:08.18, Fukuoka, Japan 1984 - Steve Jones (GBR) 2:08.05, Chicago, USA 1985 - Carlos Lopes (POR) 2:07.12, Rotterdam, NED 1988 - Belayneh Dinsamo (ETH) 2:06.50, Rotterdam, NED 1998 - Ronaldo da Costa (BRA) 2:06.05, Berlin, GER 1999 - Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 2:05.42, Chicago, USA 2002 - Khalid Khannouchi (USA) 2:05.38, London, GBR 2003 - Paul Tergat (KEN) 2:04.55, Berlin, GER 2007 - Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) 2:04.26, Berlin, GER 2008 - Haile Gebreselassie (ETH) 2:03.59, Berlin, GER 2011 - Patrick Makau (KEN) 2:03.38, Berlin, GER 2013 - Wilson Kipsang (KEN) 2:03.23, Berlin, GER Source: AFP

Kipsang, 31, shaved 15 seconds off the previous world record of 2:03.38 set by compatriot Patrick Makau over 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles).

Makau, missing from this year's race with a knee injury, set the record in the German capital two years ago.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, who won the Hamburg marathon in April on his debut over the distance, finished second in a personal best time of 2:04.05.

Compatriot Geoffrey Kipsang (2:06.26) was third.

This is the ninth time a world record has been set on Berlin's notoriously flat streets and five men's world records have been set in the German city in the past decade alone.

Kipsang's moment of glory was marred by the presence of an intruder, who jumped over a barrier and broke the red tape at the Brandenburg gate ahead of the new world record holder.

Despite the intrusion, Kipsang still seemed to enjoy the victory.

"This is a dream come true and it happened in Berlin," he said.

"Ten years ago, I watched Paul Tergat beat the record world in Berlin and this time it's me whose done it.

"With good training and excellent conditions, I think I have the potential to go faster."

The intruder, an ambush marketer trying to promote a website, was charged with trespassing and banned from any future events run by the organisers of the Berlin marathon.

Security had been tightened at the race in the wake of April's bomb attack on the Boston marathon which left three dead and 250 injured, and for the first time the Berlin finish area was closed off.

Sorry, this video has expired An unidentified 'marathon-crasher' (L) crosses the finish line ahead of Wilson Kipsang. (Reuters)

Kiplagat completes Kenyan double

The women's race was won by Kenya's Florence Kiplagat, the 2011 winner in Berlin, in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 21 minutes 13 seconds, six minutes off Paula Radcliffe's world record set 10 years ago in London.

Germany's Irina Mikitenko finished third to break the world masters record for the over 40s, in a time of 2:24.54.

Having trained specifically to break the world record in Berlin, Kipsang, the Olympic bronze medallist in London, broke away from the leading pack in the final 10 kilometres and ran his own race.

The elite group had been on world record pace up until the 29km, but when the tempo dropped, Kipsang took matters into his own hands and was three seconds under the necessary pace in the final two kilometres.

Having run a previous personal best in 2011 when he went within Makau's previous world record in Frankfurt, Kipsang added the Berlin title to his CV having won the London marathon in 2012.

AFP