Kiptum officially claims Kipchoge's marathon record after World Athletics ratification

World Athletics has finally ratified Kelvin Kiptum's world marathon record of two hours and 35 seconds he set in last year’s Chicago Marathon held in October.

Kiptum made history by becoming the first marathoner to achieve the elusive two-hour mark in a record-eligible marathon, shaving an impressive 34 seconds off the previous record.

Kiptum's remarkable achievement surpassed the previous world record of 2:01:09, held by his fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge, set in Berlin on September 25, 2022.

From the outset of the race, Kiptum displayed his intent to dominate the race, pushing the pace alongside compatriot Daniel Mateiko.

By the 5km mark, they had broken away from a seven-strong lead group, with a blistering 14:26 split.

The duo maintained world record pace at 10km, crossing it in an astonishing 28:42. Although the tempo dipped slightly, they reached the halfway point in an impressive 1:00:48.

The turning point came at the 30km mark, where Kiptum unleashed a surge of energy, breaking away from Mateiko and clocking a remarkable 1:26:31.

With an extraordinary 5km split of 13:51, he reached the 35km checkpoint in 1:40:22, putting him on track for a sub-2:01 finish, a staggering 49 seconds ahead of his closest competitor.

Maintaining a relentless pace, Kiptum powered through the 40km mark in 1:54:23, achieving a remarkable 27:52 10km split.

Crossing the finish line in an awe-inspiring 2:00:35, he secured victory with a commanding lead of almost three and a half minutes.

In the aftermath of this historic feat, Kiptum expressed his joy, saying, “I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record – I am so happy. A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”

Looking ahead, Kiptum has set his sights on the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14, 2024, with a singular focus on surpassing his own record.

Follow Pulse Sports WhatsApp channel for more news.