Kipchoge’s historic INEOS feat, however, won't be recognised as an official World Record! According to the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), for a race to meet athletics' competition rules, and therefore be eligible to become a World Record, certain criteria must be met. The world marathon record has, for the past 16 years, been contested uniquely between athletes from Kenya and Ethiopia. Kipchoge's record was almost beaten last month in the Berlin marathon by Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, who ran 2:01.41, just two seconds short of the official world mark. During Thursday’s press conference, Kipchoge noted that the Vienna race was meant to challenge human beings in their day-to-day endeavours.

Source: Standard Digital October 12, 2019 10:30 UTC