Kipchoge Sets Marathon Record
Eliud Kipchoge stormed to his fourth London Marathon win in 2:02:37—the second-fastest marathon ever recorded. The 39-year-old Kenyan's time marks a record-breaking fourth victory in London, cementing his legendary status in marathon running. His performance comes as the global marathon scene continues to push the boundaries of human endurance.
- At the time, Kipchoge already held the official men's world record of 2:01:39, set at the 2018 Berlin Marathon. The London course is generally considered less conducive to record-breaking times than the flat Berlin course, making his 2:02:37 finish particularly noteworthy. - This victory marked Kipchoge's 10th consecutive marathon win and his fourth in London, with previous victories in 2015, 2016, and 2018. - With this win, he became the first man to win the elite London Marathon four times, surpassing a three-win record he previously shared with Mexico's Dionicio Cerón and fellow Kenyan Martin Lel. - In the final stages of the race, Kipchoge pulled away from Ethiopian runners Mosinet Geremew and Mule Wasihun. Geremew finished second with a time of 2:02:55, which at the time was the third-fastest marathon ever run. - The win was a precursor to another historic achievement; just a few days later, Kipchoge announced the Ineos 1:59 Challenge. - On October 12, 2019, in Vienna, Kipchoge successfully completed the Ineos 1:59 Challenge, running the marathon distance in 1:59:40. While not an official world record due to the controlled conditions, he became the first person in recorded history to break the two-hour barrier.
