Kenya’s Kiptum Smashes World Marathon Record in Chicago

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum smashed the world marathon record, clocking a tremendous 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

Kiptum became the first athlete to finish the race under the 2:01 mark in the third marathon of his career, according to the sports governing body World Athletics (WA).

The 23-year-old Kenyan made his 2:01:53 marathon debut in Valencia last December. Kiptum ran his second less than six months ago in the London Marathon which he won in 2:01:25, making him the second-fastest marathon runner of all time.

In Chicago, he improved his time by another 50 seconds and took 34 seconds off from the 2:01:09 world record mark set by Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin last year.

The defending champion Benson Kipruto finished almost three and a half minutes later, in second place while Belgian Bashir Abdi was third in 2:04:32.

The only Ethiopian athlete in the top ten was Seifu Tura, who was placed fifth in 2:05:29.

Sifan Hassan Grabs Women’s title

Dutch star Sifan Hassan took the women’s marathon title, clocking in 2:13:44 at the World Athletics Platinum Label road race.

Her finishing mark was second only to Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa’s 2:11:53 world record time set at the BMW Berlin Marathon last month.

The defending champion Ruth Chepngetich finished nearly two minutes later to claim second place.

Megertu Alemu of Ethiopia held on to finish third in 2:17:09 while Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) placed fourth in 2:17:23. The other Ethiopian athletes Tadu Teshome and Genzebe Dibaba were fifth and sixth, clocking 2:20:04 and 2:21.47, respectively.