Eliud Kipchoge breaks two-hour marathon barrier as he successfully completes Ineos 1:59 challenge

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Tom Dutton12 October 2019

Eliud Kipchoge became the first athlete to run a marathon in under two hours after successfully completing the Ineos 1:59 challenge with a historic dash in Vienna.

The four-time London Marathon was accompanied along the way by 41 drop-in pacemakers, including some of the world's best athletes, as he completed the 26-mile course in 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds.

However, the unofficial marathon attempt will not be recognised as a world record by the IAAF because of various controlled measures put in place to benefit the Kenyan.

The pacemakers ran in rotating groups and took up a formation to best protect Kipchoge from the elements, while a green laser representing 20 seconds below two-hour pace was beamed onto the road by a support car in front.

Kipchoge, who set an official world record of 2:01.39 in Berlin last year, previously attempted a sub two-hour marathon under similar conditions but fell 26 seconds short in 2017.

He hit the hour-mark with 11 seconds to spare and with 500m to go burst clear of his support team to finally break the hallowed two-hour barrier.

Kipchoge said: "Remember the 41 pacemakers are among the best athletes ever in the world.

"I can say thank you to them, I appreciate them for accepting and together we made history on this one.

"We can make this world a beautiful world and a peaceful world. My wife and three children, I am happy for them to come and witness history.

"The positively of sport, I want to make it a clean sport and an interesting sport."

The 34-year-old was even able to wave to the crowds as he sprinted towards the finish line, where his wife Grace greeted him.

In jubilant scenes Kipchoge was somehow able to keep running as he celebrated with the crowd before being hugged by his INEOS team-mates.

Afterwards he told the BBC: "I am feeling good. After Roger Bannister in 1954 it took another 63 years, I tried and I did not get it.

A laser representing 20 seconds below two-hour pace was beamed onto the road
AP

"After 65 years, I am the first man! I want to inspire many people, that no human is limited."

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