BERLIN (AP) — Sabastian Sawe of Kenya finished far ahead of his rivals to win the Berlin Marathon on Sunday, when unseasonable warmth thwarted his effort to break the course record.

The 29-year-old Sawe finished in a year’s best time of 2 hours, 2 minutes and 16 seconds – four minutes ahead of Japan’s Akira Akasaki and more than 4½ minutes ahead of Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele.

“I did my best,” Sawe said. “I’m so happy.”

Sawe’s compatriot Rosemary Wanjiru won the women’s race in 2:21:05, just ahead of Ethiopia’s Dera Dida.

Sawe looked exhausted as the top three were presented with giant alcohol-free beers during their award ceremony.

He had been targeting Eliud Kipchoge’s course record of 2:01:09 from 2022, a world record at the time. Kelvin Kiptum’s time of 2:00:35 from the 2023 Chica

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