Published 06 Apr 2022

To toast the fifth anniversary of the NN Running Team we will bring you five highlights from each of the past five years of the team. Today we turn the spotlight on to 2019.

  • Eliud makes history in London.

Kenyan marathon maestro Eliud Kipchoge claimed a record-breaking fourth victory in the London Marathon by running the second fastest marathon of all-time.

The Kenyan great further cemented his legacy by notching his 11th win in his 12th career marathon, triumphing in 2:02:38. Seizing control in the second half of the race, Eliud said: “I’m happy to win in London for the fourth time and to make history.”

  • Joshua secures global glory.

World Cross Country champion Joshua Cheptegei went one better than at the previous edition of the World Championships to take 10,000m gold in Doha.

In an energy-sapping battle at the Khalifa Stadium, the Ugandan athlete shaded a pulsating sprint finish from Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha – to seize gold in a rapid 26:48.36. Joshua, who earlier in 2019 had claimed the World Cross Country title, recorded the second fastest winning time in a World Championship 10,000m.

  • Wonderful Copenhagen for Geoffrey.

Geoffrey Kamworor produced a show-stopping display in Copenhagen to post a blistering 58:01 and wipe 17 seconds from the world half marathon record.

The Kenyan was four seconds under world record pace at the halfway split – reached in 27:34 – before upping the tempo in the second half of the race to obliterate the previous world record mark held by Abraham Kiptum.

Geoffrey said: “It is very emotional for me to set this record. And doing it in Copenhagen, where I won my first world (half marathon) title, adds something to it.”

  • Kenenisa’s jaw-dropping performance.

Kenenisa Bekele rolled back the years to claim victory in the Berlin Marathon in a stunning 2:01:41 – within two seconds of the world record of Eliud Kipchoge.

Having endured several years of injury frustration, the Ethiopian three-time Olympic champion produced a vintage performance to clock the second fastest marathon in history.

Hitting the front at 38km he said: “I know I can still run a very good marathon and I won’t give up,” said Kenenisa. His countryman and fellow NN Running Team athlete Birhanu Legese placed second in 2:02:48 to climb to number three on the all-time lists.

  • Eliud lights up the world with epic performance

Eliud Kipchoge achieved his “moon-landing” moment in Vienna to become the first man in history to run a sub-two-hour marathon as part of the INEOS 1:59 Challenge. The Kenyan icon proved “no human is limited” by completing the 42.2km distance in an awe-inspiring time of 1:59:40.2.

Backed by INEOS founder and chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe and supported by cutting edge sports science and world-class pacemakers, Eliud ran with metronomic precision to dip under the landmark two-hour time with something to spare.

“I hoped to leave a positive message to the whole world that no human is limited,” he said. “This was the best moment of my life.”