Two-time Olympic gold medalist Eliud Kipchoge achieved a new race record during the Melbourne Marathon, expressing potential for an even quicker finish. 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.
Breaking away within the last 10 kilometers of the 42.2-kilometer race on Sunday, Kipchoge triumphantly crossed the finish line in two hours, nine minutes, and 10 seconds, surpassing the previous race record by a mere two seconds. Previously, his Kenyan counterpart, Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh, held the Melbourne record at 2:09:12, set in 2022.
Australian Thomas Do Canto claimed the second position in the men’s race with a time of 2:10:35, while Camille French from New Zealand emerged victorious in the women’s category, finishing in 2:28:25. Laura Peill of Canada secured the 16th spot in the women’s race with a time of 2:47:46.
