Kipchoge Runs 2:03:05 to Win the London Marathon

Published by IAAF on April 24, 2016

A second consecutive victory in the London Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label Road Race, in the second fastest time in history of 2:03:05 further endorsed Eliud Kipchoge’s credentials as one of the greatest marathon runners in history on Sunday (24).

The Kenyan, who looks destined to represent his country at his third Olympic Games in Rio, looked frustrated to miss the world record by eight seconds as he put his head in his hands immediately after finishing but he didn’t express any exasperation in the post-race press conference.

“I realised I was a few seconds off the world record. It was not really disappointment,” he reflected, although he had earlier confirmed he had no idea he was so close over the final kilometre to the world record of 2:02:57 set by his compatriot Dennis Kimetto in Berlin two years ago.

Not for the first time in London, the pace in the opening stages of the men’s race was blisteringly fast with a large pack escorted by pacemakers covering the early miles at close to two hour-pace for the distance.