Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum Wins London Marathon, Breaks Eliud Kipchoge's Record

Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor finished second.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Apr 23, 2023 - 11:08 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 22:38
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Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum Wins London Marathon, Breaks Eliud Kipchoge's Record
Kelvin Kiptum during the 2023 London Marathon. /TCS LONDON MARATHON

Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum is the winner of the 2023 London Marathon in the men's category.

Kiptum on Sunday, April 23 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 legendary marathoner Eliud 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.

Kelvin Kiptum during a past marathon. /FILE

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

Defending champion Amos Kipruto, Valencia Marathon champion Kelvin Kiptum and Geoffrey Kawmoror, Ethiopians Birhanu Legese, world champion Tamirat Tola and the fastest man in the pack, Kenenisa Bekele, crossed 10km in 29:12.

The pack of nine athletes led by Kiptum went past 15km in 43:51 and 20km in 58:31 before they hit the halfway mark in 1:01:40 as Bekele started to fall away from the pack.

Kiptum took eight athletes including Kipruto and Kamworor through 25km in 1:12:53 before going for the significant move just after the 30km mark to open a 10 seconds lead from Kamworor.

In the women's category, Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir finished third as Dutch sensation Sifan Hassan won the marathon in her first attempt, having switched from track and field where she dominated the 5,000 and 10,000 km races, finishing at a time of 2:18:34.

Alemu Megertu of Ethiopia finished second at a time of 02:18:37 with Jepchirchir following with a time of 2:18:38.

Hassan, who had fallen behind in the latter stages, pulled a stunning comeback to bag the coveted title in her debut marathon.

Race favourite Brigid Kosgei, also the reigning world record holder, was forced to pull out of the race shortly after the start due to a foot injury.

Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir competing in the 2023 London Marathon on April 23, 2023. /FACEBOOK

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