Eliud Kipchoge Sets Melbourne Marathon Record With 2:09:10 Win

Kenyan marathon star Eliud Kipchoge broke the course record at the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday, October 11, 2026, finishing the 42.2-kilometre race in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds. The 41-year-old two-time Olympic champion won by two seconds over the previous record, set by fellow Kenyan Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh in 2022.

The Eliud Kipchoge Melbourne Marathon record added another milestone to the career of one of distance running’s most accomplished athletes. Making his Melbourne Marathon debut, Kipchoge pulled away from the field in the final 10 kilometres before entering the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the finish.

The Melbourne Marathon 2026 results reflect a controlled performance from Kipchoge, who had last won a marathon in Berlin in September 2023. His experience helped him establish a decisive lead during the closing stages of the race.

The victory could have come in an even faster time. Kipchoge slowed to wave at spectators during the final half-lap inside the MCG, where thousands of fans watched him cross the finish line. The gesture added a personal moment to a race that had already delivered a new course record.

Kipchoge won Olympic marathon gold at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, cementing his reputation among the sport’s leading distance runners. His Melbourne performance also marked his return to the top of a marathon podium after a three-year gap between victories.

In the women’s event, Camille French claimed first place in 2:28:25. Australian runner Sinead Diver finished second in 2:28:49, while Ireland’s Nichola Sheridan took third in 2:29:13.

The Eliud Kipchoge Melbourne Marathon record gives the Kenyan runner another notable achievement as he continues his international running journey. His Melbourne debut also brought him to Australian audiences who had previously followed his Olympic triumphs and marathon world record.