Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya shattered the world record at the Chicago Marathon, running 2:00:35 and breaking the previous mark of 2:01:09 set by Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin last year.
Kiptum, 23, was running in only his third marathon. As he did in his first two, he ran the second half of the race faster than the first. He ran 1:00:48 for the first half and 59:47 for the second.
Benson Kipruto of Kenya, the race’s defending champion, finished second in 2:04:02. Bashir Abdi of Belgium, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist, was third in 2:o4:32
From the start of his career, the world record seemed to be within Kiptum’s reach. He won his debut marathon, Valencia, in December 2022 in 2:01:53, at the time, the fifth-fastest time in history. Four months later, he topped that, winning London in 2:01:25, then the second-fastest time ever, behind only his countryman Kipchoge.
Kiptum was pushed for the first 18 miles of the race by Daniel Mateiko of Kenya, who was making his marathon debut. But Mateiko, 25, had marathon experience—he paced Kiptum in London through the first 30 kilometers (18.6 miles). Plus, he has a personal best of 58:26 for the half marathon, one of five times he has broken 59 minutes for the distance.
Approaching the halfway point, the appointed pacer for Kiptum and Mateiko appeared to be struggling to keep ahead of them. He stepped off the course just before 13.1. At halfway, the chase group was 1:32 behind the leaders.
Kiptum ran the 19th mile in 4:21 and quickly opened up a gap on Mateiko. Kiptum’s 5K split from 30 to 35K was 13:51, putting him on world record pace. His split for the 22nd mile was 4:18. Mateiko ended up dropping out after 35K.
“That’s my strategy, 19 miles, 20, I make a move,” Kiptum said after the race. He said he never felt any discomfort during the race and felt confident from 5K on that he would set the record.
At the press conference two days before the race, Kiptum wouldn’t speak of the world record, saying his aim was to break course record of 2:o3:45, set by Dennis Kimetto in 2013. But the race went out in 60:40, which would put them right about at record pace.
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Published: Oct 08, 2023 9:41 AM EST is a writer and editor living in Eugene, Oregon, and her stories about the sport, its trends, and fascinating individuals have appeared in Runner’s World Nonbinary Winner Crowned at Chicago Marathon, Run Your Butt Off! and Walk Your Butt Off!
