BERLIN - Kenya's Wilson Kipsang broke the marathon world record in Berlin yesterday in a new official best time of 2hr 3min 23sec.

Kispang, 31, shaved 15 seconds off the previous world record set by compatriot Patrick Makau, who ran 2:03:38 over 42.195km in the German capital just 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 with compatriot Geoffrey Kipsang third with 2:06:26.

This is the ninth time a world record has been set in Berlin and five men's world records have been set here in the last decade alone.

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

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 to break the world record in Berlin, Kipsang, broke away from the leading pack in the final 10km 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 2km.

Kipsang added the Berlin title to his CV, having won the London Marathon in 2012.