updated 7:54 a.m. ET Sept. 30, 2007

BERLIN - Haile Gebrselassie broke the marathon world record Sunday, winning the Berlin Marathon in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 26 seconds.

The 34-year-old Ethiopian was 29 seconds faster than the four-year-old mark of 2:04:55 set by Kenya’s Paul Tergat, on the German capital’s flat and fast course where six world records have been set. Gete Wami, also from Ethiopia, defended her title in the women’s race in 2:23:17.

Gebrselassie trailed the record mark by six seconds at the halfway point but picked up the pace over the last six miles, when he ran alone without pacemakers.

He ran through the giant pillars of the Brandenburg Gate in downtown Berlin and broke into a smile over the final yards as it became clear he would accomplish the feat on his second try in Berlin.

25th world record
Then he threw his arms up in triumph as he broke the tape.

“Don’t ask me how I am,” Gebrselassie said. “It’s very special, spectacular.”

This was the 25th world record for the two-time Olympic 10,000-meter champion.

Two Kenyans finished second and third, with Abel Kirui clocking 2:06:51 and Salim Kipsang running 2:07:29.

Gebrselassie faded over the final miles last year in a failed bid at the record, settling for the fastest marathon of the year at 2:05:56.

This time he increased his mileage before the event and was helped by a cool day.

“Today, there was a little wind, but otherwise perfect,” he said.

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The win helped him forget the torment of dropping out of April’s star-studded London Marathon, when he had breathing problems after about 19 miles. Later, he was diagnosed with allergies.

“That was very sad. I could not sleep at all the night after that, and this experience still follows me until today,” Gebrselassie said.

Lucrative effort
Gebrselassie picked up $71,000 for the win and the same amount in a world record bonus.

Wami picked up points in her bid for the $500,000 offered for winning the first World Marathon Majors Series. The former Olympic 10,000 champion is locked in a battle for the prize money with Jelena Prokopcuka of Latvia.

For the women, Germany’s Irina Mikitenko was second in 2:24:52, and Kenyan Helena Kirop finished third in 2:26:27.

The Berlin Marathon is the fourth-largest marathon in the world, drawing 40,000 competitors and another 8,000 entries in special events.

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