As they say, there is a new name to put on the map: the name is that of 23-year-old Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum and the map is that of world records in marathons.
In fact, yesterday in Chicago, Kiptum set an incredible new record over the marathon distance. Pronouncing those figures makes an impression, not least because at these levels a few seconds less decides a world record but in this case the seconds, as happened only two weeks ago in Berlin for the women’s world record set by Ethiopian Tigist Assefa, are more than a handful.
Two hours and thirty-five seconds.
Considering that the previous record, also set in Berlin in 2022 by Eliud Kipchoge, was two hours, one minute and nine seconds, it means that Kiptum has shaved an impressive 34 seconds off the previous time.
Who is Kiptum?
The new world record holder is a 23-year-old Kenyan who therefore, given his age, does not have a very long career behind him. He had been heard of for his first-place finish in his international debut in Spain, at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, when he set the fastest time for a rookie in an international race, running it in less than two hours and two minutes.
But that was just the beginning because then Kiptum won the 2023 London Marathon in 2:01:25, that is, stopping just 16 seconds short of Kipchoge’s world record.
His race in Chicago-which has yet to be ratified anyway, although the World Athletics X/Twitter account has already decreed his eligibility-was confirmation of his frightening progression to today’s achievement.
The thought that this was only his third international competition makes his feat even more impressive.
One last element is worth noting: his age. To become a world record holder so young means you still have a long career ahead of you.
In other words, the very distinct (and exciting) feeling is that Kelvin Kiptum still has more records in his pocket.
For now, and rightly so, let him celebrate the one he won in Chicago.