Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum breaks men's marathon world record in Chicago
23-year-old beats old mark by more than 30 seconds with time of 2:00:35
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.
The 23-year-old 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.
WORLD RECORD 🤯<br><br>🇰🇪's Kelvin Kiptum destroys the marathon world record* at the <a href="https://twitter.com/ChiMarathon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChiMarathon</a> with 2:00:35 😵<br><br>He becomes the first man in history to break 2:01.<br><br>*Subject to the usual ratification procedures <a href="https://t.co/gRYYzE89d0">pic.twitter.com/gRYYzE89d0</a>
—@WorldAthleticsKiptum 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.
"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."
He glided through the finish line, seemingly with energy to spare as he leapt into an embrace with race director Carey Pinkowski.
Hassan denies Chepngetich
There was also a remarkable effort in the women's race by Dutch middle-distance runner Sifan Hassan, who thwarted Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich's bid for a third straight Chicago title in 2:13:44, the second-fastest women's marathon time ever.
Hassan picked up a pair of medals at the World Athletics Championships in August and showed no signs of fatigue in Chicago as she broke the tape one minute and 53 seconds ahead of Chepngetich.
Ethiopian Alemu Megertu took third in 2:17:09.
