World Athletics on Tuesday, February 6, announced the ratification of Kevin Kiptum’s marathon world record.
Ratification, which is an official recognition and approval of a performance or record achieved by an athlete and formally cements the fete in the global scene.
According to the World Athletics, the marathon record is now considered official based on its statement released.
Kiptum broke the world record on October 8 2023, by setting a new record time of two hours and 35 seconds (2:00:35) in a race held in Chicago.
The previous world record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon was 2 hours and 1 minute (2:01) based on World Athletics data.
In the statement ratifying the world record, World Athletics stated “Kenya’s Kiptum became the first athlete to break 2:01 in a record-eligible marathon, taking 34 seconds off the world record”.
While describing the details of the race, World Athletics, stated that Kiptum pushed the pace throughout the race and broke away from a seven-strong lead group after reaching 5km at the 14:26 minute.
He was also joined by his compatriot Daniel Mateiko while breaking away from the rest of the marathoners.
However, World Athletics noted that the marathoners dropped their tempo a little when they reached halfway in 1:00:48.
He went on to win the race, breaking away from his counterparts by almost three and a half minutes, and crossed the finish line in 2:00:35.
Celebrating his win Kiptum noted that he was happy, however he had not expected to break the world record.
“I knew I was coming for a course record, but a world record – I am so happy,” he said. “A world record was not on my mind today, but I knew one day I would be a world record-holder,” an elated Kiptum stated.
Previous ratifications of world records include that of Faith Kipyegon where she clocked 3 minutes and 49.11 seconds in the women's 1500m, at the 43rd edition of the Golden Gala in Florence, Italy surpassing the previous world record of 3:50.07 held by Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba since July 17, 2015.
