Kenyan runner Kelvin Kiptum has set a new marathon world record in Chicago. He covered the 42.195 kilometers in two hours and 35 seconds.

The Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum has set a new marathon world record in Chicago. He covered the 42.195 kilometers in two hours and 35 seconds.

Kipchoge’s record undercut

Kiptum beat the previous record by 34 seconds, which his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge set in Berlin last September. The Kenyan was running only the third marathon of his career in Chicago. In April, he had already won the long-distance race in London, which he completed in two hours, one minute and 25 seconds.

There could be a direct clash between Kelvin Kiptum and Eliud Kipchoge at next year’s Summer Olympics in Paris, and thus a duel for the gold medal.

Sifan Hassan with top time

In the women’s competition in Chicago, Dutch runner Sifan Hassan set the second-best time ever. The Ethiopian-born runner finished in two hours, 13 minutes and 44 seconds. Tigist Assefa (Ethiopia) still holds the world record for women of two hours, eleven minutes and 53 seconds.