Two-time Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge achieved a new race record at the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday, with a potential for an even faster time. The 41-year-old Kenyan, a former world record holder and winner of gold medals in the 2016 and 2020 Olympics, deliberately slowed down to acknowledge spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the final stretch of the race.
Having triumphed in his previous marathon in Berlin in September 2023, Kipchoge surged ahead within the last 10 kilometers of the 42.2-kilometer race and completed the course in two hours, nine minutes, and 10 seconds – surpassing the previous race record by two seconds. The former Melbourne record of 2:09:12 was held by Kipchoge’s fellow Kenyan, Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh, set in 2022.
The runner-up in the men’s race was Australian Thomas Do Canto, finishing in 2:10:35, while Camille French from New Zealand secured victory in the women’s category with a time of 2:28:25. Canada’s Laura Peill clinched the 16th position in the women’s race, completing the marathon in 2:47:46.
