World second fastest marathoner of all time, Kelvin Kiptum has set his mind on the World Marathon Record held by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge at this year’s Chicago Marathon slated for this Sunday (8) in Chicago, United States.
The 23 year-old has clear and ambitious vision of going after Kipchoge’s marathon record time of 2:01.09 that he set in Berlin in 2022.
Kiptum, who is the reigning London Marathon champion clocked an impressive 2:01.25 in just his second-ever marathon race after his debut at the Valencia Marathon last year where he went into history books as third man to break the two hour and two minutes after sealing the race in 2:01.53.
The soft spoken Kiptum will be joined by the defending champion Benson Kipruto who holds a personal best time of 2:04.24 that he got when taking the honors last year. Kipruto also finished third in the 2022 and 2023 Boston Marathon with respective time of 2:07.27 and 2:06.06.
Last year’s Los Angeles marathon Champion John Korir, who holds the seventh fastest time on paper in this r ace will also be among the title contenders as well as Daniel Mateiko and Wesley Kiptoo who are making their maiden debuts over the distance.
Former African U20 1500m Silver medallist, Dawit Wolde and the 2021 winner Seifu Tura both from Ethiopia have also been roped in to fight for the top honors. The two holds fourth and fifth fastest time on the start-list of 2:04.27 and 2:04.29.
The fastest marathon runner born outside Africa and record holder in the Americas, Daniel Do Nascimento of Brazil, will also be on the start line as he seeks to edge out his opponents. He comes to this race with a life time best of 2:04.51 that he got last year in Seoul.
Tokyo Olympics marathon bronze medallist, Bashir Abdi and London Olympics 10,000m silver medallist, Galen Rupp will also be fighting for the title.
LEADING TIME
42KM MEN
- Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) 2:01.25
- Bashir Abdi (BEL) 2:03.36
- Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:04.24
- Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:04.27
- Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:04.29
- Daniel Do Nascimento (BRA) 2:04.51
- John Korir (KEN) 2:05.01
- Huseydin Mohamed (ETH) 2:05.05
- Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) 2:05.29
- Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06.07
- Conner Mantz (USA) 2:08.16
- Yuki Matsumura (JPN) 2:09.01
- Takashi Ichida (JPN) 2:09.15
- Kei Katanishi (JPN) 2:09.27
- Matt McDonald (USA) 2:09.49
- Jorge Castelblanco (PAN) 2:09.49
- Mick Iacofano (USA) 2:09.55
- Masashi Nonaka (JPN) 2:09.57
- Masaki Tsuda (JPN) 2:10.40
- Mizuki Higashi (JPN) 2:11.04
- Colin Mickow (USA) 2:11.22
- Andrew Colley (USA) 2:11.26
- Frank Lara (USA) 2:11.32
- Kevin Salvano (USA) 2:11.49
- Clayton Young (USA) 2:11.51
- Joel Reichow (USA) 2:12.11
- Brian Shrader (USA) 2:12.53
- Dan Kremske (USA) 2:14.53
- Daniel Mateiko Debut KEN
- Wesley Kiptoo Debut KEN
- Connor Winter Debut USA
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