Kipchoge ends three-year win drought with Melbourne course record

Eliud Kipchoge won the Melbourne Marathon Festival on Sunday in 2:09:10, his first marathon victory since Berlin in September 2023 and a course record by two seconds. The Kenyan, 41 and a two-time Olympic champion, broke away in the closing 10 kilometres on a route that used part of the Albert Park Formula One circuit before finishing inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He picked up the pace again after 30 kilometres, then eased off on the final lap of the MCG to acknowledge the crowd.

Melbourne was the third stop on Kipchoge's self funded World Tour, after marathons in South Africa and Brazil earlier this year. He announced the project in 2025, with the stated aim of racing a marathon on every continent, Antarctica included, inside two years. Australia's Thomas Do Canto was runner up in 2:10:35, with compatriot Reece Edwards third in 2:14:33. The previous course record, 2:09:12, had stood since 2022.

New Zealand's Camille French won the women's race in 2:28:25, ahead of Australia's Sinead Diver in 2:28:49 and Ireland's Nichola Sheridan in 2:29:13.

It is Kipchoge's first marathon win of any kind since his Berlin title three years ago. A sub 2:10 course record at 41, on a continent-hopping charity tour rather than a major, says more about what is left in him than any farewell framing does.

Sources: AP via ABC News; Al Jazeera.