Running News Daily

MELBOURNE, Australia — Kenyan marathon great Eliud Kipchoge added another memorable chapter to his illustrious career on Sunday, October 11, 2026, winning the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival in a course-record time of 2:09:10

The victory further underlined the 41-year-old's enduring class and competitive spirit as he continues his ambitious global project, Eliud’s Running World, a three-year journey aimed at completing a marathon on every continent.

Kipchoge's performance delivered another milestone in a career defined by extraordinary consistency, historic achievements and an unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of distance running. His Melbourne triumph marked the 17th marathon victory of his career, adding another prestigious result to a remarkable record on the roads.

Kipchoge's Melbourne triumph was particularly significant as it marked his return to the top of the marathon podium three years after his previous marathon victory in Berlin in 2023. At 41, the Kenyan legend demonstrated that experience, discipline and an enduring passion for running can continue to produce exceptional performances at the highest level. His course-record time of 2:09:10 was a powerful reminder of his remarkable longevity in a sport that demands extraordinary physical and mental strength.

Australia's Thomas Do Canto finished second in 2:10:35, while compatriot Reece Edwards took third in 2:14:33, completing an all-Australian finish behind the Kenyan champion. For Kipchoge, the victory represented more than another achievement in his decorated career; it was another opportunity to inspire runners of all ages and reinforce his belief in the unifying power of the sport. His Melbourne success added fresh momentum to his global running tour and reaffirmed his status as one of the most influential marathon runners in history.

The Kenyan star broke away from his rivals in the closing stages of the 42.195-kilometre race before crossing the finish line inside the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His official finishing time of 2:09:10 set a new course record, improving the previous mark of 2:09:12 established by Timothy Ronoh in 2022.  

Melbourne represented the third stop on Kipchoge's ambitious Eliud's Running World journey. The project began with the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in South Africa in May, followed by the NB42K Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil in July. His latest appearance took the initiative to Oceania, bringing one of the greatest figures in distance-running history to Melbourne's passionate running community.

Kipchoge's Melbourne appearance was about much more than chasing another victory. The Kenyan legend embraced the city's running culture, sharing the course with runners of different abilities and inspiring the next generation through his presence. His course-record performance provided a fitting highlight to a day that celebrated the power of running to bring people together, with enthusiastic spectators lining the route and the spectacular finish at the Melbourne Cricket Ground adding to the occasion.

Reflecting on the experience, Kipchoge expressed his pride in winning a new race record while continuing his global mission to inspire runners and communities around the world. He also praised the tremendous support he received throughout the race, describing the atmosphere in Melbourne as an unforgettable experience that went beyond the competition itself.

“Today was such a special day, not only running my third World Tour, but also winning in a new race record. It makes me proud to run with the younger generation and inspire the running community in Melbourne. Today was about more than sport. It was about the energy of the city, the huge support along the race route, running alongside so many other runners, and a stunning finish at the MCG. No words can describe that feeling. Thank you, Melbourne.”

The two-time Olympic marathon champion has built a legacy through his remarkable achievements, including becoming the first man to complete a marathon in under two hours during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in 2019, although that performance was not eligible for an official world record.

At 41, Kipchoge continues to demonstrate his love for the sport, using his global journey to promote running as a force for unity, inspiration and positive change across communities and continents.

His Melbourne victory was therefore more than another addition to his impressive collection of marathon wins. It was a statement of continued competitiveness and a celebration of a career that has helped shape modern marathon running.

With four continental stops remaining on his seven-continent mission, Kipchoge's journey is far from over. His latest triumph in Australia has provided another compelling chapter in the story of a champion whose influence extends well beyond the finish line.

For years, Grace Sugut has been a familiar presence alongside one of the greatest marathon runners in history, Eliud Kipchoge. Now, her own running story is beginning to take shape.

Sugut is preparing for the third marathon of her career when she lines up at the Nike Melbourne Marathon on Sunday, October 11, 2026, sharing the start line with her husband once again as Kipchoge continues his ambitious global marathon journey in Australia.

What makes Grace’s story particularly fascinating is the speed at which her marathon journey has developed. Rather than spending years building towards the distance, she has embraced the challenge in a relatively short period, travelling across continents and gradually establishing her own identity as a marathon runner.

Her journey began in Cape Town on May 24, 2026, where she completed her marathon debut in 4:29:59. That first race marked the beginning of a new chapter for a woman who had long been closely connected to marathon running through Kipchoge.

Just weeks later, she continued that adventure in South America, taking on the NB42K Porto Alegre Marathon in Brazil on July 12. The race provided another opportunity to gain experience over the demanding 42.195-kilometre distance and add another international marathon to her growing journey.

Now, Melbourne awaits.

The Nike Melbourne Marathon will give Grace another chance to test herself over the full marathon distance, this time on a redesigned course that organisers have made faster and flatter. The 2026 route features up to 20 per cent less elevation gain and 30 per cent fewer turns, while the race will once again finish inside the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The marathon starts at 6:15 a.m. from Batman Avenue before taking runners through some of Melbourne’s most recognisable areas and ultimately into the MCG for a memorable stadium finish.

For Grace, however, Melbourne represents more than another race on the calendar.

It places her directly inside the extraordinary global adventure being undertaken by her husband.

Kipchoge’s Eliud’s Running World project is taking him to seven marathons across all seven continents over a two-year period, combining marathon racing with a wider mission to bring communities together through running and support education and environmental initiatives through the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation.

Melbourne is the third stop of that journey, following Cape Town in South Africa and Porto Alegre in Brazil.

And this time, Grace is not simply accompanying the journey from the sidelines.

She is running it.

From Cape Town to Porto Alegre and now Melbourne, her progression reflects a personal transformation from being closely associated with marathon running through Eliud to taking on the distance herself.

There is something deeply compelling about that journey. While Kipchoge has spent more than a decade building one of the most celebrated marathon careers in history, Grace is beginning her own story from a very different starting point — learning the marathon one race, one continent and one kilometre at a time.

On October 11, thousands of runners will fill Melbourne’s streets, while the spectacular finish inside the MCG will provide the backdrop for another memorable day of marathon running.

Kipchoge will continue his seven-continent mission.

Grace Sugut will have a simpler but equally personal objective: to keep moving forward and complete another 42.195 kilometres.

From supporting a marathon legend to becoming a marathon runner herself, Grace’s journey is only beginning — and Melbourne could become another important chapter in a story that is already taking her around the world.

Marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge is set to continue his ambitious global running mission with a highly anticipated appearance at the NB42K Porto Alegre on July 12, 2026, in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

The South American race will form part of Kipchoge’s unique World Tour project — a challenge that will see the Kenyan great run seven marathons across all seven continents over the next two years. The initiative reflects his vision of using running as a universal platform to connect people and inspire communities around the world.

The visit to Brazil also carries deep personal significance for the two-time Olympic champion. It comes exactly ten years after his unforgettable victory in the 2016 Rio Olympic Marathon in Rio de Janeiro, where he captured the first of his Olympic gold medals and cemented his place among the sport’s all-time greats.

In a message shared on his social media platforms, Kipchoge expressed both excitement and nostalgia about returning to Brazil.

“Running is a universal language that speaks to hope, discipline, and unity. I am very excited to return to Brazil where I won my first Olympic Gold medal. Each continent has its own spirit, and I look forward to sharing this journey with South America while inspiring people to believe that No Human Is Limited. See you on the streets of Porto Alegre on 12 July at the NB42k!”

Kipchoge’s global journey will begin on African soil at the Cape Town Marathon in Cape Town, South Africa on May 24, before the legendary Kenyan heads to South America for the Brazilian stop.

As the world’s most celebrated marathoner continues to write new chapters in his remarkable career, his message remains clear — that running has the power to unite people across continents while reminding the world that no human is limited.