( CNN ) -- Kenya 's Dennis Kimetto became the first man to run the marathon in under two hours three minutes as he set a new world record in Berlin Sunday . The 30-year-old Kimetto trimmed 26 seconds off the previous best by compatriot Wilson Kipsang , set last year in Berlin , with a time of two hours two minutes 57 seconds . Kimetto , who is from the Rift Valley region , the traditional breeding ground for many distance running greats , battled fellow Kenyan Emmanuel Mutai in the closing stages , eventually shrugging him off with four kilometers remaining . Mutai finished second , his time of two hours three minutes 13 seconds also inside the old record . But to pre-race favorite Kimetto went the glory and he realized early in the race that the record was within his grasp . `` As the race went on , I saw I could do it , I 'm delighted to have won , '' Kimetto told reporters after his victory . He is among a group of young Kenyans who are dominating the road race scene , pushing the record ever nearer the magical two hour mark . Kimetto 's previous best was a course record two hours three minutes 45 seconds , set in winning the 2013 Chicago Marathon , again relegating Mutai to second place . In the women 's race , Tirfi Tsegaye of Ethiopia took the victory with a fast winning time of two hours 20 minutes 18 seconds , nine seconds ahead of compatriot Feyse Tadese . Shalane Flanagan of the United States was third in a personal best of two hours 21 minutes 14 seconds .
Dennis Kimetto breaks world marathon record in Berlin . Kenyan Kimetto first man to break two hours three minute barrier . Breaks previous record by Wilson Kipsang also set in Berlin . Tirfi Tsegaye of Ethiopia wins women 's race .