Kipchoges marathon reign will linger for ages, says Makau

Former world marathon record holder Patrick Makau believes last year’s world record fete achieved by Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge is serving as a leading light in every race the 34-year old is competing in.

Imperious Kipchoge, who smashed the previous world record by more than a minute to claim last year’s Berlin Marathon in two hours, one minute and 39 seconds, strode clear of the field on Sunday to win London Marathon with the second-fastest marathon time of 2:02:37 only second to his own world record, run in Berlin last September

In the wake of Kipchoge’s latest win where he set a course record while bagging a record-breaking fourth title, Makau has sensationally claimed that the Kenyan might leave a mark difficult to be achieved by the next generation.

“Kipchoge makes me feel I was not doing enough during my time, and it might be difficult for any marathoner to achieve what he is has when he finally retires. He’s out of this world,” Makau said.

Makau who announced his retirement from the sport last year due to a recurrent patella tendon injury attributed Kipchoge’s success to extreme discipline.

“We have interacted many times and he is very much disciplined. You cannot hear any scandal related to him and that is why he will dominate in the next coming years,” he added.

Makau was the second Kenyan to break the world marathon record after Paul Tergat in 2003, the former smashing Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie 2008 record in a time of 2:03:38 in 2011 before Wilson Kipsang shattered his record in 2013. He had also won the title in 2010.

After previous London victories in 2015 and 2016, the indefatigable Kipchoge became the only man to notch up consecutive wins on two occasions as he defended his title in style, taking an 11th career win from 12 races over 26.2 miles and extending an undefeated streak that stretches back to September 2013.

London marked the final major marathon of the spring, with the fall season set to begin in Berlin on September 29.