Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge makes history, breaks world marathon record

Eliud Kipchoge Saturday became the first man to run the marathon under two hours after clocking one hour, 59 minutes and 40 seconds during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge at Prater Park in Vienna, Austria.

The Kenyan Olympic champion, in black shorts and white jersey, completed its course in 1 h 59 min 40 sec, or almost two minutes less than his world record (2 h 01 min 39 sec) established under conditions approved in Berlin last year.

Kipchoge assisted by 41 pacemakers enters the Guinness Book of World Records for running the first sub two-hour marathon though his feat will not be recognised by the world athletics governing body, IAAF, as the new world marathon record.

“Marking history was my goal, I’m a happy man, there are no human limits,” the organizer’s microphone told the marathon recorder after his feat, which he compared to “walking on the Moon “for the first time.

“I followed the same training, my team is the same, but I still improved my mind,” he explained before his attempt. “I feel better prepared and confident.”

The Kenyan is one of the greatest athletes of all time, revealed to the public during his victory over 5,000 m of the Paris World Championships in 2003. Winner of the marathon of the Rio Olympics (2016), Eliud Kipchoge is almost undefeated on this distance since 2013. This time, he said he wanted to “run for history”. He has definitely entered the books of history this Saturday.

Nairobi at a stand still. Weldone #Eliud159 pic.twitter.com/ouW1HaP2ts

— Mullah ?%???? (@mwaura24) October 12, 2019

Congratulations!! You have done us proud #Eliud159 . Plans are underway with GulfstreamAero , the jet will be deliver to #eliudkipchoge before 29th November 2019.

Hard work pays . #NoHumanIsLimited

— Jimmy Wanjigi™ (Jimmywanjigi1) October 12, 2019

Congratulations Eluid Kipchoge, for stretching the limits of humanity | EliudKipchoge INEOS159 #Eliud159 #INEOS159 #NoHumanIsLimited pic.twitter.com/JCvuHr3DWz

— Governor Hassan Joho (@HassanAliJoho) October 12, 2019

“I am running to make history, to show that no human is limited. It's not about money, it's about showing a generation of people that there are no limits,” #Eliud159 pic.twitter.com/ZZphAi3Vgw

— Makerere University (@MakerereU) October 12, 2019

From the finest marathon runner there has ever been, a mighty congratulations to EliudKipchoge for his extraordinary achievement. You’ve made your country ??proud, may this encourage all upcoming athletes to never give in and keep on moving. #Eliud159 pic.twitter.com/Gv3jB99isQ

— Safaricom PLC (SafaricomPLC) October 12, 2019