Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum Breaks Eliud Kipchoge's World Record At Chicago Marathon

Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum has set a new world record to win the Chicago Marathon, beating the world record set by legendary marathoner Eliud Kipchoge.

Kiptum finished at a time of 2:00:35, which is faster than Kipchoge's 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.

This feat makes Kiptum the first man in history to run an entire marathon and break the 2:01 mark, having only started running the marathon races a year ago.

Another Kenyan Benson Kipruto came in second clocking a time of 2:04:02 with Rotterdam Marathon champion Bashir Abdi of Belgium coming in third with a time of 2:04:32. Another Kenyan, John Korir finished fourth clocking a time of 2:05:09.

Kelvin Kiptum in action during the 2023 Chicago Marathon. /X

Kiptum has run three career marathons, all in the last 10 months, and posted three of the six fastest times in history: 2:01:53 in Valencia, Spain, last December, followed by 2:01:25 in London in April.

In the London edition on Sunday, April 23, he set a new course record of 2:01:27, which is the second-fastest time in a marathon.

He broke the course record set in 2019 by Kipchoge by over a minute, in only his second career marathon.

Kiptum, who ran the fastest-ever debut Marathon in Valencia in 2022 repeated the feat but cut down the course record by slightly more than a minute from Kipchoge’s course record of 2:02:37.

With the super-fast time, he also ran the second fastest-ever marathon in history, 17 seconds shy of Kipchoge’s World Record of 2:01:09

Subject to the usual ratification procedures, the 23-year-old today surpassed his 38-year-old counterpart as the best marathoner in the world.

Until today, Kipchoge has been the standout best marathoner for the last 10 years and has set his sights on winning three Olympic marathons, when the competition takes place in Paris, France next year, setting the stage for him to join the rank of sprinter Usain Bolt, who won three gold medals back to back in the competition. 

Jamaican Bolt, regarded as one of the best sprinters of his generation, won the 2008, 2012, and 2016 gold titles in the 100m and 200m Olympic games and is the only athlete in human history to set this record.

"I want to make history by being the first human being to win gold in a marathon (Olympic) three times back to back," Kipchoge divulged in an interview with CNN’s International Correspondent, Larry Madowo.

Congratulatory messages for Kelvin Kiptum

Transport Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kipchumba Murkomen led prominent Kenyan figures in congratulating Kiptum for his historic achievement.

"Bravo Kelvin Kiptum for a scintillating performance and breaking the Marathon World Record! A delightful run of 2.00.35 at the Chicago Marathon breaks the earlier record of 2.01.09 set by Eliud Kipchoge at the Berlin Marathon in 2022. 

"Kiptum's triumph confirms the Kenyan spirit of excellence, courage, and dedication. Congratulations, Kiptum, for flying the Kenyan flag even higher!" Murkomen's Interior counterpart, Kithure Kindiki, stated.

"This is exhilarating! A bow in honour of Kelvin Kiptum for breaking the World Record in the 42-km Chicago Marathon and becoming the new record holder in the block. We celebrate this achievement," stated KANU national chairman, Gideon Moi on X (formerly Twitter).

Kiptum's world record feat also sees him qualify to receive the Ksh5 million reward President William Ruto promised to every athlete who breaks a record.

"For every world record broken by a Kenyan, the government of Kenya is going to award Ksh5 million," stated Ruto on Tuesday, June 13.

Kelvin Kiptum during a past marathon. /FILE