Kelvin Kiptum, a 23-year-old Kenyan runner, performed an unprecedented achievement during the Chicago Marathon, not only earning victory but also smashing a new world record. In a race where no other participants were visible on the horizon, Kiptum’s unofficial finishing time was at an amazing 2 hours and 35 seconds. If validated, this amazing performance will break the previous record established by two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge at the 2022 Berlin Marathon by a margin of 34 seconds.
Kelvin Kiptum’s Outstanding Perfomance:
Moreover, Kelvin Kiptum would register his name in history as the first athlete ever to complete a marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute, eligible for a record.
“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record — I am so happy,” cried Kiptum, expressing his elation. “A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder,” he stated, as reported by World Athletics.
The drama erupted early in the race, with Kelvin Kiptum and fellow Kenyan Daniel Mateiko breaking away from the pack around the 5-kilometer mark (3.1 miles). Neck and neck, the two athletes maintained their proximity until about the 30-kilometer mark (18.6 miles), when Kiptum unleashed an astounding burst of speed, leaving Mateiko behind in his wake.
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Sadly, Mateiko finally had to quit from the race, yielding the spotlight to his compatriot Benson Kipruto, who secured the second-place result. Belgian runner Bashir Abdi completed the podium in third position. Impressively, four American runners – Conner Mantz, Clayton Young, Galen Rupp and Sam Chelanga – also managed to secure positions in the top 10.
On the women’s side of the tournament, Olympic track champion Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands claimed a victory with an impressive performance of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 44 seconds.
Remarkably, Sunday’s run marked only Kiptum’s third-ever marathon and his maiden marathon in the United States. In April, Kiptum had already made ripples in the running world by achieving the second-fastest time in marathon history, an incredible 2 hours, 1 minute and 25 seconds at the London Marathon.