The Chicago Marathon did not disappoint this year, yielding multiple record-shattering performances. The men’s marathon world record was broken by Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum, who crossed the finish line in a time of 2:00:35. With this time, he became the first person to ever come in under 2:01:00.
Even on the verge of his remarkable accomplishment, he appeared to be running comfortably as he approached the finish line, enthusiastically celebrating before grabbing a Kenyan flag and beginning a triumphant victory lap.
In just his third competitive marathon, Kiptum was able to shave 34 seconds off of the previous world record held by his teammate, Eliud Kipchoge.
“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record – I am so happy,” Kiptum said. “A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder.”
The records continued to fall as under 14 seconds after Kiptum, the Netherlands’s Sifan Hassan crossed the finish line at 2:13:38. In doing so, she set a new women’s Chicago course record.
This was just her second competitive marathon, as she made her debut at the 2022 London Marathon. There, she finished in 2:18:33, winning the marathon and setting the Dutch national record of the fastest women’s marathon time.
“I’m just so grateful. I’m so happy, but the last 5 kilometers I was telling myself never again,” Hassan said.
Yielding 47,000 runners from all over the world, this year’s Chicago Marathon was a huge success and a premier showing of international athletic competition. But for Kiptum and Hassan, the day is that much sweeter, as they leave for home with their names etched in the record books.
