- Kelvin Kiptum set a world record in the Chicago Marathon at 2 hours, 35 mins
- He shattered fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge ‘s old mark by 34 seconds
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Kelvin Kiptum set a world record in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, finishing in 2 hours, 35 seconds to shatter fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge’s old mark by 34 seconds.
‘I feel so happy,’ Kiptum said afterwards. ‘I wasn’t prepared. I knew I was coming for a course record but fortunately a world record.
‘A world record was not in my mind today. I knew one day one time I’d be a world-record holder.’
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands also took advantage of cool and cloudy weather that’s considered ideal for a marathon to win the women’s race in 2:13:44 — the second-fastest ever for a woman at the 26.2-mile distance.
‘I ran so great. I’m so happy,’ Hassan said. ‘I ran an amazing time. I never thought I’d run 2:13. It’s amazing. It’s unbelievable.’
Kelvin Kiptum (pictured) set a world record in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday
![Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya celebrates after winning the 2023 Chicago Marathon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/08/19/76308739-12608151-image-a-35_1696789754704.jpg)
Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya celebrates after winning the 2023 Chicago Marathon
Kiptum won the London Marathon in the spring in 2:01:25 and shaved almost a minute off the world record set last year in Berlin by Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion and the most successful marathoner ever. Kipchoge also broke the 2 hour mark in 2019 in a specially designed Vienna exhibition that does not qualify for the world record.
Hassan’s time is second behind the women’s world record of 2:11:53 set last month in Berlin by Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia. Assefa shattered the women’s world record by more than two minutes.
More than 47,000 runners took part in Sunday’s event.
![Men's pro winner Kelvin Kiptum and women's professional division winner Sifan Hassan](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/10/08/19/76308741-12608151-image-a-36_1696789765440.jpg)
Men’s pro winner Kelvin Kiptum and women’s professional division winner Sifan Hassan
The old Chicago Marathon record of 2:03:45 was set by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto in 2013.
‘Chicago is a flat course,’ Kiptum said. ‘I thought I’d go and try Chicago.’
Kiptum was among six men who surged ahead at the start behind four half-marathon pacers. Kiptum pulled away from Kipruto after 5km and was joined by countryman Daniel Mateiko, who had been a pacer for Kiptum in London.
Kiptum reached the halfway mark in 1:00:48, just off world-record pace, and Kiptum pulled away from Mateiko with a 4:21 time in his 20th mile then reached 40km at 30 seconds under world-record pace, setting the stage for history.
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