BERLIN, Germany -- Haile Gebrselassie broke the world record when he won the Berlin Marathon on Sunday.
Gebrselassie (in red) on his way to the world record in Berlin.
Gebrselassie won in an unofficial two hours four minutes 26 seconds, shattering the previous best by Kenya's Paul Tergat, by 29 seconds.
Tergat set the mark over the same course four years ago.
Ethiopian Gebrselassie said: "I knew I could do it. Everything went well. I felt last year that I could make it in Berlin.
"This was perfect. The weather was great - a bit windy - but I still made it and it's a dream come true.
"Don't ask me how proud I am, words can't describe."
"I just want to thank all the German people who helped me on the course, their support made a huge difference."
This was Gebreselassie's second consecutive win in Berlin since he quit track racing after the 2004 Olympics to concentrate on the marathon.
Abel Kirui finished second in 2:06.52, with his fellow Kenyan Salim Kipsang third in 2:07.29
Britain's world marathon record holder Paula Raddliffe was beaten on her return to competitive running after a 21 months break, finishing second to American Kara Goucher at the Great North Run in Newcastle, England.
Radclife, in her first race since giving birth to daughter Isla, finished 56 second adrift as Goucher won in a year's best time of one hour six minutes and 56 seconds. E-mail to a friend 
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