Two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge ends 3-year victory drought, wins Melbourne Marathon

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge claimed a new race record on Sunday by winning the Melbourne Marathon. He could have run even faster.

The 41-year-old Kenyan, who previously held the world record and has Olympic gold medals from 2016 and 2020, slowed to wave to spectators within the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the final half-mile. Kipchoge attacked inside the last 10 kilometers of the 42.2-kilometer race and finished with a time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 10 seconds, just two seconds shy of the previous record.

Kipchoge's fellow Kenyan, Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh, held the previous Melbourne Marathon record of 2:09:12, set in 2022. Australian Thomas Do Canto finished second with a time of 2:10:35, and New Zealand's Camille French claimed victory in the women's race with a time of 2:28:25.