Sports · Running & Athletics · 9 hrs ago
Eliud Kipchoge wins Melbourne Marathon and breaks race record
Eliud Kipchoge, a 41-year-old Kenyan runner and two-time Olympic champion, won the Melbourne Marathon in Australia on Sunday.
He finished in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds, breaking the race record by two seconds.
It was his first marathon win since 2023.
Kipchoge pulled away from the other leading runners in the final part of the race and finished at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where thousands of fans cheered him.
He said he still feels able to compete with younger runners.
The Melbourne race is part of his plan to run a marathon on each of the seven continents, including Antarctica.
Australian Thomas Do Canto finished second, while New Zealand’s Camille French won the women’s race.
Eliud Kipchoge won the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday, setting a race record.
Most reports put his winning time at 2 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds, two seconds inside the previous race record.
The 41-year-old Kenyan broke away in the final 10 kilometres and finished inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
It was his first marathon victory since Berlin in 2023 and the third stop on his planned seven-continent World Tour.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported his time as 2:09.08, while other reports gave it as 2:09:10.
- Who
- Eliud Kipchoge, a Kenyan two-time Olympic champion, won the race.
- What
- He won the Melbourne Marathon and set a race record.
- When
- Sunday, October 11, 2026.
- Where
- Melbourne, Australia, with the finish inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
- Why
- He was competing as part of a World Tour to run marathons on all seven continents and raise funds for causes he believes in.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I believe that my body is still peaking – still able to compete with the next generation.
On the course, it was really wonderful, I enjoyed seeing people standing, cheering, and shouting my name
So I come here to celebrate the 70 years and tell the people of Melbourne, 'Let us run together here at the MCG' so it was a beautiful time for me, happy to enter this stadium
The crowd is so wonderful – I’ve never seen a crowd like this
Kipchoge last won a marathon, in Berlin.
Kipchoge announced plans to run marathons on all seven continents over two years.
Kipchoge won the Melbourne Marathon, breaking the race record.
- Winning time
- 2 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds in most reports; the Sydney Morning Herald reported 2:09.08.
- Race record margin
- Two seconds inside the previous race record.
- Runner-up
- Thomas Do Canto, in 2:10:35.
- Women's winner
- Camille French, in 2:28:25.
- Finish venue
- Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Sources
Eliud Kipchoge wins first marathon in three years with record-breaking Melbourne run
Running on F1 track and finishing inside MCG: How Kenyan legend Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years
‘My body is still peaking’: Eliud Kipchoge wins first marathon in three years
Running legend Kipchoge sets race record at Melbourne Marathon
This athletics great says the Melbourne Marathon track was the ‘best ever’
Related news
Clayton Young Runs Second-Fastest U.S. Marathon Time at Chicago
Chelsea Clinton Finishes Chicago Marathon in 3:47:55
Vinny Mauri finishes 10th at Chicago Marathon after leading early
Ankita breaks women’s steeplechase meet record at National Open Championships
Catherine Debrunner sets women’s wheelchair world record at Chicago Marathon
Julie-Anne Staehli wins fourth straight Canadian women’s 5K title
Amos Kipruto and Hawi Feysa win the 2026 Chicago Marathon
Emma Grace Hurley Sets American Marathon Debut Record in Chicago
Amos Kipruto upsets Jacob Kiplimo to win Chicago Marathon
Galen Rupp sets American masters marathon record in Chicago
Sabastian Sawe sets record-eligible marathon mark of 1:59:30
