( CNN ) -- Kenya 's Patrick Makau set a new world record for the marathon in Berlin Sunday as previous record holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia failed to finish . Makau led home a Kenyan 1-2-3 in a time of two hours three minutes 38 seconds , shaving 21 seconds off the record set in the corresponding race in the German capital three years ago by Gebrselassie . Stephen Kwelio Chemlany took second with Edwin Kimaiyo placing third . Gebrselassie , 38 , was prominent until the 35km mark before dropping out , just as he had done in the New York marathon last November . He was trying to gain a qualifying time for the 2012 London Olympics and will now target the Dubai marathon early next year to achieve his aim . Makau , 26 , was successfully defending his Berlin crown , with the added bonus of taking the world record on a traditionally fast course . Kenya 's Florence Kiplagat won the women 's race in two hours 19 minutes and 43 seconds with Germany 's Irina Mikitenko in second place . Britain 's world record holder Paula Radcliffe finished third on her comeback to marathon after giving birth to her second child and a series of injuries . Her time of two hours 23 minutes 46 minute was over eight minutes slower than her world 's best but qualifies her for the Olympics on home soil .
Patrick Makau of Kenya sets new world record in Berlin . Makau takes 30 seconds off the previous best held by Haile Gebrselassie . Gebrselassie drops out of the race in Berlin at 10 km mark . Florence Kiplagat of Kenya wins the women 's race .