Kenian Makau sets new world record at Berlin Marathon

 　　BERLIN, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan Patrick Makau sets a new world record at the 38th Berlin Marathon¹ when he pulverized² the former record by Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie with 2:03:38 on 42,195 km³ on Sunday.

　　With perfect conditions Makau was able to beat Gebrselassies world record about 21 seconds. It is the 8th world record in Berlin marathon history. Gebrselassie finally dropped out between 35-40 km as he would not get a time fast enough for London 2012.

　　"I came to Berlin to win. At the half way point I knew that I could break the record. It is the greatest day of my career" , Makau said after the marathon.

　　At the women marathon Kenyan Florence Kiplagat finished on first with 2:19:44 followed by Irina Mikitenko with 2:22.18 and Briton Paula Radcliffe with 2:23:46.

1 marathon   

n.长距离赛跑；需要耐力的比赛；(M-)马拉松

参考例句：

• I'm hoping to be in the marathon next year.我希望明年能参加马拉松赛。
• The meeting was a bit of a marathon.这次会议有点马拉松赛的味道。

2 pulverized   

adj.[医]雾化的，粉末状的v.将…弄碎( pulverize的过去式和过去分词 )；将…弄成粉末或尘埃；摧毁；粉碎

参考例句：

• We pulverized the opposition. 我们彻底击败了对手。
• He pulverized the opposition with the force of his oratory. 他能言善辩把对方驳得体无完肤。 来自辞典例句

3 km   

n.(=kilometre) 公里，千米

参考例句：

• Our speed averaged out at 50 km an hour.我们的平均速度是每小时50公里。
• The car does ten km. to the litre.这辆汽车每升汽油跑10公里。