Sports
Marathon: Kipchoge Expects Athletes To Run Under Two Hours
Eliud Kipchoge says he expects other athletes to emulate his feat of running a marathon in under two hours.
The Kenyan, 34, became the first person to break the two-hour barrier by running one hour 59 minutes 20 seconds in Vienna on Saturday.
He compared his achievement to Sir Roger Bannister running the first official sub-four-minute mile in 1954.
“Before Roger Bannister, everybody was scared to run under four minutes,” the Olympic champion told Tidesports source.
“But after, athletes from all over the world have broken the four-minute barrier,” he said,
After Britain’s Bannister ran three minutes 59.4 seconds in Oxford in May 1954, Australian John Landy beat the mark by clocking 3.58 in Turku, Finland, just 46 days later.
The sub-four-minute mile is now seen as standard for elite male runners, with Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj holding the current record of 3.43.13.
“I’m showing the world that no human is limited and they can go beat two hours in a marathon,” added Kipchoge.
He said: “I’m expecting we’ll see athletes train well and focus and try to beat two hours like I did.”
Kipchoge’s accomplishment in the Ineos 1:59 Challenge will not be not be recognised as the official marathon world record by governing body the IAAF because it was not in open competition and he used a team of rotating pacemakers, including many of the world’s best middle and long-distance runners.
He was also handed drinks and energy gels from coaches on bikes over 4.4 laps of a 5.97-mile course in the city’s Prater park.
Kipchoge does hold the official record of 2:01.39, set at the 2018 Berlin Marathon, while Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele fell two seconds short of that mark in this year’s race.
Four-time London Marathon winner Kipchoge clocked 2:00.25 in a similar attempt in Nike’s Breaking 2 Project at the Italian Grand Prix circuit at Monza in 2017, which was also not ratified by the IAAF.
When asked if he could break the two-hour barrier in competition, Kipchoge said: “For now I want to celebrate, I don’t want to pre-empt the future.
“I want to celebrate the history and more will come after getting a rest and starting again to think with my team.”
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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