Kiptum shattered the London Marathon course record this year and was determined to make magic again in the Windy City as he sped up through the 35km mark before thrusting his arms in the air to cheers from the crowd down the final stretch.

Kiptum had not originally targeted the record but said he knew that twice Olympic champion Kipchoge’s previous mark of 2:01:09s was within reach in the final kilometres, as he dug deep to make history.

“I feel so happy. I wasn’t prepared,” he said at the finish line.

“A world record was not in my mind today.”

He broke the tape 3:27s ahead of compatriot Benson Kipruto, while Belgian Bashir Abdi finished third in 2:04:32s.