Eliud Kiptum sets new world record in Chicago marathon.

23-year-old Kelvin Kiptum has set a new world record (2:00:35) at the Chicago marathon.

Kiptum smashed Eliud Kipchoge’s record (2:01:09) set at the 2022 Berlin Marathon. Kiptum broke away from his Kenyan compatriot Daniel Mateiko after 30 kilometers to get into world record pace.

Kiptum made his marathon debut during the 2022 Valencia Marathon, where he raced to the fastest debut in history and also posted an impressive performance at the London Marathon, coming within 16 seconds of the world record, with a 2:01:25 finish.

The self-taught athlete opted out of last month’s Berlin Marathon to save his energy for the Chicago Marathon,  which is widely regarded as the fastest marathon major in North America.

In a pre-race interview with Olympics.com, Kiptum said he is well-trained for the Chicago course and believes he can become the first man in history to run a 2:00 flat.

Post the race; Kiptum confessed that even though he knew he would set a world record someday; he didn’t think that was the day.

“A world record was not in my mind today… but I knew one day, one time I would be,” an elated Kiptum said.

Kiptum’s victory marks the first time since 1999 that the men’s world record has been set in Chicago.