•Kiptum said he was not surprised by his masterclass act because he had always believed in his potential to attain new heights over the distance.
•Kiptum breezed to victory ahead of compatriot Benson Kipruto who finished second in 2:03.27.
Image: HANDOUT
Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum said smashing the world record was the least of his concerns as he pounded hard on the course to storm the Chicago Marathon title on Sunday.
Kiptum, 23, clocked two hours and 35 seconds to shatter compatriot Eliud Kipchoge’s record of 2:01:09 set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.
The elated athlete waved and blew kisses at spectators before punching the air in triumph at the finish line. He then went down on his knees and kissed the course in grace.
“For now, I’m very happy. A world record was not on my mind but it came naturally,” Kiptum said excitedly in a post-race interview.
However, at some point, he got inspired to record a milestone after taking a glance at the clock and realising he was several minutes behind the world record.
“I saw the time in front of me and said let me try and see if I can run under 2:00. But unfortunately, I didn’t make it.”
Kiptum said he was not surprised by his masterclass act because he had always believed in his potential to attain new heights over the distance.
“I always knew one time I’d be a world record holder," Kiptum remarked.
“This was my first time in Chicago. I heard a long time ago that Chicago has a flat course, and so I said let me go and give it a try.”
It was the first time a world record was recorded in Chicago since Moroccan Khalid Khannouchi’s exploits of 2:05:42 on October 24, 1999.
Image: HANDOUT
Kiptum breezed to victory ahead of compatriot Benson Kipruto who finished second in 2:03.27.
The rich field of competitors also included Belgium’s Bashir Abdi, the marathon bronze medalist from the 2020 Olympics and 2022 World Championships who wrapped up third in 2:03.57. The other Kenyan John Korir cracked a top-four finish in 2:04.34.
Also in the men’s chase is Ethiopian Seifu Tura, the 2021 Chicago winner and last year’s runner-up who placed fifth after clocking 2:04.54.
Kiptum stormed the 2023 London Marathon title — his second marathon ever — in 2:01:25, just 16 seconds shy of Eliud Kipchoge’s world record.
He made his marathon debut during the 2022 Valencia Marathon, where he raced to the fastest debut in history.
He opted out of last month’s Berlin Marathon to save his energy for the Chicago Marathon.
More than 47,000 runners thronged the streets in Chicago on Sunday, the marathon’s largest runner field to date.
Dutch woman Sifan Hassan won the women’s race in a new course record time of two hours, 13 minutes, and 44 seconds.
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich placed second in 2:15:37 while Ethiopian Megertu Alemu completed the podium in 2:17:09. Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya finished fourth in 2:17:23.
This was Sifan’s second marathon after making her debut in April where she clinched the London marathon in 2:18:33.
Sifan’s time is only second to the world record of 2:11:53 set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa in the Berlin Marathon last month.
SELECTED RESULTS
Men’s Elite
1. Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) -- 2:00:35 WR
2. Benson Kipruto (KEN) -- 2:04:02
3. Bashir Abdi (BEL) -- 2:04:32
4. John Korir (KEN) -- 2:05:09
5. Seifu Tura Abdiwak (ETH) -- 2:05:29
6. Conner Mantz (USA) -- 2:07:47
7. Clayton Young (USA) -- 2:08:00
8. Galen Rupp (USA) -- 2:08:48
9. Sam Chelanga (USA) -- 2:08:50
10. Takashi Ichida (JPN) -- 2:08:57
Women’s Elite
1. Sifan Hassan (NED) -- 2:13:44 CR
2. Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) -- 2:15:37
3. Megertu Alemu (ETH) -- 2:17:09
4. Joyciline Jepkosgei (KEN) -- 2:17:23
5. Tadu Teshome Nare (ETH) -- 2:20:04
6. Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) -- 2:21:47
7. Emily Sisson (USA) -- 2:22:09
8. Molly Seidel (USA) -- 2:23:07
9. Rose Harvey (GBR) -- 2:23:21
10. Sara Vaughn (USA) -- 2:23:24
Men’s Wheelchair
1. Marcel Hug (SUI) — 1:22:37 CR
2. Daniel Romanchuk (USA) -- 1:31:34
3. Jetze Plat (NED) -- 1:31:40
4. Aaron Pike (USA) -- 1:32:45
5. Josh Cassidy (USA) -- 1:33:29
6. Sho Watanabe (JPN) -- 1:35:40
7. Patrick Monahan (IRL) -- 1:35:31
8. Simon Lawson (GBR) -- 1:36:30
9. Evan Correll (USA) -- 1:39:49
10. Jorge Madera Jimenez (USA) -- 1:39:52
Women’s Wheelchair
1. Catherine Debrunner (SUI) -- 1:38:44 CR
2. Susannah Scaroni (USA) -- 1:38:46
3. Tatyana McFadden (USA) -- 1:41:17
4. Manuela Schar (SUI) -- 1:41:19
5. Aline Rocha (BRA) -- 1:41:24
6. Vanessa Cristina De Souza (BRA) -- 1:49:22
7. Jenna Fesemyer (USA) -- 1:49:31
8. Michelle Wheeler (USA) -- 1:55:40
9. Hannah Dederick (USA) -- 1:56:56
10. Yen Hoang (USA) -- 1:58:16