AIMS (the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races) took the opportunity, on the occasion of the 31st BIG 25 Berlin race, to honour the winners of the previous year's race who, in a unique double, set world records in both the male and female races. This was the first time this has ever happened.

Samuel Kosgei and Mary Keitany, both from Kenya, both broke the world 25km records. Kosgei (1:11:50) took 55 seconds from the mark held by Paul Kosgei since 2004. Keitany smashed the 1:20 barrier, improving Mizuko Noguchi's time (1:22:13, set en route to a Berlin Marathon finish in 2005) to 1:19:53.

In last year's race, 24 year-old Kosgei opened a decisive gap in the final 2km before going on to claim first place. Altogether seven runners finished inside 1:14, among them the former record holder Paul Kosgei, who had been in the leading group until 15km. In the women's event Mary Keitany ran her own race at the front from the start. She passed 10km in 31:58 and clocked 47:58 at 15km. Even when the course climbed back up towards the Olympic Stadium she kept her rhythm and speed to finish almost five minutes ahead of closest competitor Alice Timbilili. After the race Keitany said: "I prepared long and hard for this race and I expected to break the record…but not by such a big margin, or to run sub-1:20.", Keitany also capped off an outstanding 2010 by claiming AIMS' annual AIMS/ASICS World Athlete of the Year Award.

BIG 25 Berlin has produced five world records in total over the years: Kenneth Cheruiyot 1:13:58 (in 1997); Rodgers Rop 1:13:44 (in 2001); and Paul Kosgei 1:12:45 (in 2004). The specially commissioned award was presented to race organiser Gerhard Janetzky on Sunday (8 May) by AIMS PR Manager for Germany, Austria & Switzerland Horst Milde as a memorable addition to this year's post-race presentation ceremony.

AIMS President Paco Borao comments: "The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, on behalf of our 300 members around the world, acknowledge this fine accomplishment and congratulate to The BIG 25 Berlin event. It is every race organiser's dream to have an elite athlete break the world record at their event and to have two world records posted at the same time is, so far, a unique achievement."

BIG 25 Berlin Race Organiser Gerhard Janetzky comments: "I thank AIMS for the presentation of this special award. We are happy to share in the delight of Samuel Kosgei and Mary Keitany for their achievements. This year we saw another great race with world-class times and a total of 10,423 entries registered. It was a bit too warm for a world record but our record number of spectators enjoyed the event."

In this year's event Mathew Kisorio (Kenya) clocked 1:12:13, the third fastest time ever run at the distance, missing the world record by just 23 seconds. Women's winner Filomena Chepchirchir clocked 1:23:22, the fastest time so far in 2011.