The Unbelievable Landmark

Kenyas Eliud Kipchoge paves the way for breaching the two-hour barrier in marathons.

- Tanmoy Mookherjee

SETTING WORLD RECORD times in athletics events are a milestone to cherish forever. Most world record times are celebrated over shorter distances, like Usain Bolt’s unique double over 100m and 200m races, or even Wade van Niekerk’s all-time best over 400m. While records continue to tumble and timings continue to lower, we have always wondered what level the human body can take them to. And while sports scientists and athletes alike wonder if the 100m time can be brought under the nine-second mark, the other end of the spectrum has observed greater argument: breaking the two-hour barrier in the marathon.

Ever since middle-distance running great Roger Bannister breached the four-minute barrier to cover a mile back in 1954, long-distance runners have aspired to break even more significant ground. On September 16, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge broke the world marathon record with a blistering time of 2 hours, 1 minute and 39 seconds at the 2018 Berlin Marathon, bringing an end to the reign of compatriot Dennis Kimetto, whose record had stood for four years. Another minute and 39 seconds more, and the two-hour barrier will finally have been breached in the marathon, run over 42.195 km or 26 miles.