Eliud Kipchoge won the Melbourne marathon on Sunday, October 11, in 2 hours 9 minutes and 10 seconds, marking his first victory at this distance in three years. At 41 years old, the Kenyan double Olympic champion also improved the course record.
Kipchoge made the difference in the last ten kilometers before finishing inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. His time lowers the previous best mark of the Australian event by two seconds.
Australian Thomas Do Canto took second place in 2 hours 10 minutes and 35 seconds. His compatriot Reece Edwards finished third in 2 hours 14 minutes and 33 seconds, according to the official results published by World Athletics.
This victory ends a period without success in the marathon for the former world record holder. His last triumph dated back to 2023, when Melbourne marked his debut in this race and only his second visit to Australia.
The arrival at the Melbourne Cricket Ground held a particular historical significance. The stadium had already hosted the start and finish of the marathon at the 1956 Olympic Games, held seventy years before this edition.
In the women’s race, New Zealander Camille French won in 2 hours 28 minutes and 25 seconds, ahead of Australian Sinead Diver, who was credited with 2 hours 28 minutes and 49 seconds.
