Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya crosses the finish line of the 2023 Chicago Marathon with a new world record time of 2:00:35 in Chicago, IL, USA Oct 8, 2023. [Photo by Jamie Sabau\USA TODAY Sports]
NEW YORK - Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum has become the first man to run a marathon in under 2:01 hours, setting a new world record of two hours and 35 seconds to win the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.
The 23-year-old broke the previous record of 2:01:09, set by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in last year's Berlin Marathon.
Last year's winner Benson Kipruto, also from Kenya, was second, trailing the winner by 3:27 minutes, and Belgium's Bashir Abdi was third, another 30 seconds adrift.
Kiptum, who was just 16 seconds off Kipchoge's world record in London in April, stepped up his pace after 30 kilometers and finally broke Kipchoge's mark. He ran the second half of the 42km distance 61 seconds faster than the first half.
It marked the third time a men's world record has been set on the streets of Chicago, but the first time since Morocco's Khalid Khannouchi did so in 1999.
Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) celebrates after finishing in a world record time of 2:00:35 to win the Chicago Marathon at Grant Park in Chicago, IL, USA Oct 8, 2023. [Photo by Patrick Gorski\USA TODAY Sports
