Kenyan Kiptum smashes men's marathon world record in Chicago
Last updated on: 09 October,2023 08:47 am
Kiptum had smashed the London Marathon course record this year
Windy City (Reuters) - Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum shattered the men's marathon world record in Chicago on Sunday, winning in two hours and 35 seconds to beat compatriot Eliud Kipchoge's previous mark by more than 30 seconds.
Kiptum smashed the London Marathon course record this year and was determined to make magic again in the Windy City as he sped up through the 35-kilometre mark before thrusting his arms in the air to cheers from the crowd down the final stretch.
He had not originally targeted the record but said he knew that twice Olympic champion Kipchoge's previous mark of 2:01:09 was within reach in the final kilometres, as he dug deep to make history.
"I feel so happy. I wasn't prepared," he said at the finish line. "A world record was not in my mind today."
He broke the tape three minutes and 27 seconds ahead of compatriot Benson Kipruto, while Belgian Bashir Abdi finished third in 2:04:32.
Kiptum and compatriot Daniel Mateiko broke away from the rest of the pack by the 10-kilometre mark and the pair were more than one-and-a-half-minutes ahead of the rest of the field by the halfway point.
Running in only his third marathon, Kiptum made it a one-man race at 35 kilometres and decided to take advantage of Chicago's famously flat course as he shifted into another gear.
"I saw the time in front of me, I said let me try - maybe I can run under 2:00," he said. "I knew one day I would be a world record holder."