Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum, who at this time last year hadn’t even completed a competitive marathon, sped to victory in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday by setting a new world record with a time of astonishing 2:00:35. The previous world record, 2:01:09, achieved by his fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge at the Berlin Marathon in September of last year, was reduced by 34 seconds as a result of the timing. Even the women’s field ran quickly on the Chicago course, a World Athletics Platinum Label marathon, with Dutch star Sifan Hassan taking first place in 2:13:44.
It is the second-fastest time in the history of the women’s marathon, after only Tigst Assefa’s recent 2:11:53 record. Benson Kipruto, the reigning champion from Kenya, finished in second place in 2:04:02, followed by Belgian Bashir Abdi, who was born in Somalia, in third place in 2:04:32. After crossing the finish line, Kiptum waved and kissed the crowd. To finish the breathtaking race, he crossed the finish line while raising his arms.