Kiptum smashes world marathon record with 2:00:35 in Chicago – AthleticsAfrica
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Kiptum smashes world marathon record with 2:00:35 in Chicago

Kelvin Kiptum clocked a stunning 2:00:35 to take 34 seconds off the world record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

Kelvin Kiptum on his way to winning the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2023 / Photo: Getty Images
Kelvin Kiptum on his way to winning the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2023 / Photo: Getty Images

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum became the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon, clocking a tremendous 2:00:35 to take 34 seconds off the world record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

Less than six months on from his 2:01:25 London Marathon win, which saw him become the second-fastest marathon runner of all time, Kiptum improved by another 50 seconds to surpass the world record mark of 2:01:09 set by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin last year.

In the third marathon of his career, which began with a 2:01:53 debut in Valencia last December, Kiptum even had enough energy to celebrate his historic performance on the way to the finish line – pointing to the crowds and the finish on his approach to the tape.

He broke it in 2:00:35, winning the race by almost three and a half minutes. Benson Kipruto was second in 2:04:02 and Bashir Abdi was third in 2:04:32.

Kiptum pushed the pace throughout the 26.2-mile race. He broke away from a seven-strong lead group after reaching 5km in 14:26, joined only by his compatriot Daniel Mateiko, who was making his marathon debut.

They were on world record pace at 10km, passed in 28:42, but the tempo dropped a little from that point and they reached half way in 1:00:48.

Kiptum had been running in a hat but that came off as they entered the second half of the race. After 30km was passed in 1:26:31, Kiptum kicked and dropped Mateiko. He was glancing over his shoulder but running like he still had the world record – not only the win – in his sights.

A blistering 5km split of 13:51 took him to the 35km checkpoint in 1:40:22 and he was on sub-2:01 pace, 49 seconds ahead of Mateiko.

Continuing to run with urgency, he passed 40km in 1:54:23 and sped up further, storming over the finish line with the incredible figures of 2:00:35 on the clock.

“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record – I am so happy,” he said. “A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”

On a remarkable day of racing, Dutch star Sifan Hassan moved to No.2 on the women’s all-time list, running 2:13:44 to triumph in the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.

Men’s marathon all-time list

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World Athletics (formerly the International Association of Athletics Federations - IAAF) is the international governing body for the sport of athletics, such as running, jumping and throwing.

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