By Courtesy/ World Athletics
Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge returned to the top of the marathon podium on Sunday, winning the Melbourne Marathon in Australia in a course-record time of 2:09:10 to secure his first victory over the classic distance since 2023.
The two-time Olympic champion, aged 41, shaved two seconds off the previous course record of 2:09:12 set by fellow Kenyan Timothy Ronoh in 2022.
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Kipchoge’s triumph was his first marathon victory since the 2023 Berlin Marathon, where he clocked 2:02:42 to claim his fifth title in the German capital, becoming the first athlete to win the race five times.
In Melbourne, Kipchoge finished comfortably ahead of Thomas Canto, who took second place in 2:10:35, while Reece Edwards completed the podium in 2:14:33.
The victory came as Kipchoge pursues an ambitious project combining his competitive career with a desire to experience marathon running across all seven continents.
Explaining how he secured the Melbourne course record, the Kenyan said he increased his pace after the 30km mark to test himself and target a new benchmark.
“I increased the pace after 30km, to see whether I can run well and beat the race record. My plan went well,” he said.
Seven-continent marathon journey
Kipchoge’s seven-continent marathon adventure began in Africa at the Cape Town Marathon on May 24, where he finished 16th in 2:13:29.
He subsequently travelled to South America for the Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil, clocking 2:18:39 to finish 12th before continuing his journey to Australia.
Sunday’s race marked his second competitive appearance in Australia, following his debut at the Sydney Marathon in 2025. He finished ninth in Sydney in 2:08:30.
A decorated marathon career
Kipchoge has established himself as one of the most successful marathon runners in history, with Olympic gold medals in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020.
He won the Rio Olympic marathon in 2:08:44 before successfully defending his title in Tokyo, where he clocked 2:08:38.
He has also amassed 11 victories across the Abbott World Marathon Majors, underlining his dominance at the sport’s most prestigious races.
Berlin has been one of his most successful hunting grounds, with five victories in 2015 (2:04:00), 2017 (2:03:32), 2018 (2:01:39), 2022 (2:01:09) and 2023 (2:02:42).
Kipchoge has also won the London Marathon four times, triumphing in 2015 (2:04:42), 2016 (2:03:05), 2018 (2:04:17) and 2019 (2:02:37).
His other World Marathon Majors victories include Chicago in 2014, where he clocked 2:04:11, and Tokyo in 2021, where he won in 2:02:40.
His Melbourne victory adds another milestone to an extraordinary career, demonstrating that the Kenyan great remains competitive as he pursues his seven-continent marathon challenge.
