41-Year-Old Kipchoge Wins Melbourne Marathon, First Title Since 2023

Eliud Kipchoge won the Melbourne Marathon on Sunday in 2 hours, 9 minutes and 10 seconds, his first marathon victory since Berlin in 2023, according to Al Jazeera. The 41-year-old Kenyan, widely regarded as the most decorated marathoner in history, finished two seconds under the race record on a course that wound through part of the Australian Formula One circuit at Albert Park before ending inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

What was Kipchoge's finishing time in Melbourne?

Kipchoge crossed the line in 2:09:10, a mark Al Jazeera reported as two seconds faster than the previous Melbourne Marathon record. He broke away from the field inside the final 10 kilometers but eased his pace near the finish, waving to spectators as he entered the MCG rather than pushing for a faster split, Al Jazeera reported.

By the numbers

• Finishing time: 2:09:10 — two seconds under the Melbourne Marathon record, per Al Jazeera
• Age: 41 — Kipchoge's first marathon win since Berlin in 2023
• Runner-up gap: Australian Thomas Do Canto finished second in 2:10:35, roughly 85 seconds behind Kipchoge

How does the win fit into his seven-continent 'World Tour'?

The Melbourne race was the third stop on what Kipchoge calls his "World Tour," a campaign he announced in 2025 to run marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica, over two years, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet's triage summary describes the project as an effort "to run a marathon on all seven continents over two years" to raise funds for causes Kipchoge supports. South Africa and Brazil preceded Melbourne on the itinerary, Al Jazeera reported.

Al Jazeera did not report a specific dollar figure tied to the fundraising goal, nor did it name the beneficiary organizations in the material reviewed for this report.

Who else finished on the podium in Melbourne?

Behind Kipchoge and Do Canto, Australian runner Reece Edwards took third in the men's race at 2:14:33, Al Jazeera reported. In the women's race, New Zealand's Camille French won in 2:28:25, followed by Australia's Sinead Diver at 2:28:49 and Ireland's Nichola Sheridan at 2:29:13, according to the outlet.

What did Kipchoge say about his form after the race?

Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion and former world record-holder, told reporters he increased his pace in the back half of the race to test himself against the course record, Al Jazeera reported.

"I believe that my body is still peaking — still able to compete with the next generation," Kipchoge said, according to Al Jazeera. "The oldest athlete is still competing, but I am happy to run with the Gen Zs. I increased the pace after 30km to see whether I can run well and beat the record. My plan went well."

He also described the course itself, which combined a motorsport venue with a cricket stadium finish. "On the course, it was really wonderful; I enjoyed seeing people standing, cheering, and shouting my name," Kipchoge said, per Al Jazeera. "It was actually different — running on a beautiful course, but also running on the Formula One track, and above all else, finishing on a cricket ground."

What's next for the World Tour?

Al Jazeera's report did not specify the remaining stops on Kipchoge's seven-continent schedule beyond noting that Melbourne was the third of what organizers have framed as a multi-year series. The outlet's account leaves open which continents remain, including the Antarctica leg Kipchoge announced in 2025, and when those races are expected to take place.

Kipchoge's victory snapped a three-year drought at the distance for a runner who has long set the standard for men's marathoning, and it came against a mixed international field that included competitors from Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Whether the pace he showed in Melbourne carries into the tour's later, more logistically demanding legs — particularly any race staged on Antarctic terrain — was not addressed in the material Al Jazeera published.

Readers who want the original reporting, including full results and race-course detail, can consult Al Jazeera's account of the Melbourne Marathon directly.