MELBOURNE- Kenyan marathon great Eliud Kipchoge won the Melbourne Marathon in a course-record time of 2:09:10, claiming his first marathon victory in three years.
The 41-year-old two-time Olympic champion broke away in the final 10 kilometres and finished two seconds inside the previous course record.
Australian Thomas Do Canto was second in 2:10:35, while fellow Australian Reece Edwards finished third.
The victory was Kipchoge’s 17th over the marathon distance.
His previous marathon win came in Berlin in 2023, where he secured his record 11th title at a major marathon.
Kipchoge said he increased his pace after 30 kilometres to test whether he could beat the course record.
“I believe that my body is still peaking,” he said after the race.
He waved to spectators as he completed the final lap inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the race finished.
Kipchoge said the crowd and the stadium made the event special.
Melbourne was the third stop in Kipchoge’s world tour, an attempt to run a marathon on all seven continents, including Antarctica.
The Melbourne race was his debut at the event.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya congratulated Kipchoge, describing the Melbourne result as his third World Tour triumph.
He said Kipchoge’s resilience and determination continued to inspire athletes in Kenya and around the world.
“Once again, Kipchoge has demonstrated the extraordinary resilience, discipline and determination that have defined his illustrious career and inspired generations of athletes across the globe,” the CS said.
