Esther Pfeiffer runs 1:07:28 in Cologne

In 67:28 minutes, she not only smashed the course record set by Sabrina Mockenhaupt in 2008 with 68:51 minutes, but is now also the third fastest German woman ever over 21.0975 kilometres. Only German record holder Melat Kejeta (65:18 min) and Konstanze Klosterhalfen (65:41 min) have ever been faster than the 28-year-old from Düsseldorf Athletic.

There was another course record to celebrate in the men’s marathon: Kenyan Barnaba Kipkoech finished the 42.195 kilometres faster than anyone before him in the shadow of Cologne Cathedral: In 2:06:54 hours, he beat his compatriot Boniface Kibiwott, who had led until the 35-kilometre mark but then slowed down, finishing almost a minute and a half behind in 2:08:15 hours.

The 32-year-old Barnaba Kipkoech, who also beat his personal best, improved the Cologne record from 2012 by 43 seconds. Thirteen years ago, his compatriot Alfred Kering ran 2:07:37. The last time a time under 2:10:00 was achieved in Cologne was in 2016. Third place also went to a Kenyan, Onesmus Kiplimo, in 2:08:31 hours.

‘It was only my second start in Germany and my first in Cologne,’ said the winner afterwards, “The race went very well for me and the atmosphere here in Cologne was fantastic. There are great people here.” Barnaba Kipkoech lives and trains in the Kenyan running stronghold of Iten and has a son. A total of five runners finished in under 2:10:00.

The fastest woman was Ethiopian Fantu Shugi, who crossed the finish line in 2:29:12. This is the fastest winning time since 2015. However, the course record of 2:25:34 was not in danger. Last year’s winner Zinash Mekonnen (Ethiopia) came second in 2:30:38, followed by Faith Chepkoech (Kenya/2:31:00) in third place.