Celebrations erupt as man of moment Kipchoge breaks record

Eldoret residents watch Eliud Kipchoge compete to become the first man in history to run a marathon under two hours. Most residents turned up at the town centre along Uganda Highway to watch the historic event. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

With barely any space to turn, thousands milled around giant screens in Eldoret to witness a Kenyan son make history.

At the junction of the busy Uganda Highway, Eldoret-Iten road and the Oginga Odinga Street in downtown Eldoret, a mammoth crowd erupted in cheers the moment Eliud Kipchoge, a resident of the town, crossed the finishing line in Vienna, Austria, to complete a marathon in under two hours.

The celebrations of Kipchoge’s historical feat reverberated around the country, from his hometown in Eldoret to Nairobi, where much smaller crowds gathered below digital screens at the corner of Kenyatta Avenue and Muindi Mbingu Street and around Bus Station.

It was a different display at KICC however, where the euphoria started building from the previous night as an image of Kipchoge, the world beater, was projected on the historic building.

Pedestrians and motorists stopped to look at the image, all wishing the athlete well.

Kipchoge did not disappoint. Thousands of miles away in foggy Vienna, he made history with a comfortable 19 seconds to spare, sending local crowds into cheerful and jubilation, with strangers hugging each other on joy.

In Eldoret, at least 18,000 fans turned up at the busy inter-section to follow the INEOS 1:59 challenge on a giant screen.

People jammed the streets of Eldoret from as early as 6:20am, three hours to the much-awaited race.

Popular Kalenjin songs, INEOS (composed especially for Eliud and the Vienna race) by Wynestar Korir, and Very Nice Tumdo by Rose Cheboi, rent the air in sunny Eldoret, further electrifying an already charged atmosphere.

“I can’t watch a historic race such as this in the house. I preferred to follow it with other fans here on the streets because we will get a chance to celebrate together,” Martin Kiplimo said.

The Uganda highway was closed near Zion Mall, with motorists diverted to alternative routes around the town. Oginga Odinga Street and the Eldoret-Iten road were also closed, with only pedestrians allowed access to them.

Among the thousands of fans was two-time Boston Marathon champion Moses Tanui, who was also the first athlete in history to run a half marathon in less than one hour in Milan in 1993, when he clocked 59:47.

Political leaders from the region led by Uasin Gishu Deputy Governor Daniel Chemno and MPs Swarrup Mishra (Kesses), Oscar Sudi (Kaspseret) and Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), were also in attendance. 

Major hotels and restaurants in Eldoret were packed to the rafters as fans and residents followed the Vienna action live on TV.

At Rosewood Hotel, athletes led by 2012 Berlin Marathon champion Geoffrey Mutai and Africa 4 x 400m relay champion Aron Koech, watched the race together with tens of other athletes and fans.

Former Olympic 3000m steeple chase champion Brimin Kipruto and former world 800m champion Alfred Kirwa Yego followed the show at the Klique Hotel.

In Kapsabet, hundreds of fans took to the streets to celebrate the historic moment.

In Iten, athletes and fans thronged restaurants, with a majority of them gathering at the Keellu Resort, owned by former world marathon champion Wilson Kipsang. 

- Additional reporting by Allan Mungai.