Kelvin Kiptum has broken the fastest marathon world record after registering a time of 2 hours 35 seconds at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. The 23-year-old Kenyan runner reduced 34 seconds off the previous record, which was set by his fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge at the 2022 Berlin Marathon.

Kiptum completed the first half of the race slightly behind Kipchoge’s world record pace, but he made up for it by rapidly running the second half marathon in under an hour. He ran the 22nd mile in just 4 min 18 sec, and even found time to blow kisses to the crowd as he finished the final few hundred metres. “A world record was not in my mind today, but I knew one time, one day I’d be a world record holder,” Kiptum said in a post-race interview. “I feel so happy. I was prepared. I knew I was coming for a course record, but fortunately it was a world record.”

Kiptum has taken the marathon-running world by storm since competing in his first one less than a year ago, having previously only done half marathons. He made his debut at the 2022 Valencia Marathon, becoming the third person in history to run a time under 2 hr 2 min. Five months later, he won his second event, the 2023 London Marathon, in what was then the second-fastest time ever (2 hr 1 min 25 sec). And now, in just his third marathon, Kiptum has achieved the world record and become the first person to clock a time under 2 hr 1 min.

Kipchoge had held the record for five years, initially breaking it at the 2018 Berlin Marathon with a time of 2 hr 1 min 39 sec. He still holds the record for the fastest marathon distance (1 hr 59 min 40 sec), but this was run under specialized conditions without any competitors, so it cannot be recognized by World Athletics as the official marathon record.

1.What was Eliud Kipchoge’s record at the 2022 Berlin Marathon?

A 2 hr 2 min 25 sec.

B 2 hr 2 min.

C 2 hr 1 min 9 sec.

D 2 hr 1 min 39 sec.

解析：选C。C数字计算题。根据第一段第一句的 “a time of 2 hours 35 seconds”以及第二句的“ reduced 34 seconds off the previous record, which was set by his fellow countryman Eliud Kipchoge at the 2022 Berlin Marathon”可知，基普图姆以2小时0分35秒的成绩打破了男子马拉松世界纪录，比Eliud Kipchoge之前的记录缩短了34秒，由此可知Eliud Kipchoge之前的记录是2小时1分9秒。故选C。

2.How did Kiptum feel about his performance at the 2023 Chicago Marathon?

A A bit dissatisfied.

B Greatly encouraged.

C Terribly disappointed.

D Slightly unexpected.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第二段中的“A world record was not in my mind today”以及“I knew I was coming for a course record, but fortunately it was a world record”可知，基普图姆没想到这次会打破世界记录，由此可见他对自己的表现感到有点意外。故选D。

3.What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A Kiptum’s talent in marathons.

B The previous world records.

C Kiptum’s outgoing character.

D The marathon history events.

解析：选A。A段落大意题。根据第三段中的关键词句“has taken the marathon-running world by storm”“the third person in history”“the second-fastest time ever”等可知，他首次在马拉松亮相就掀起一股风暴，第二次成为历史第三，第三次(本次)打破世界纪录。所有的信息都在表明基普图姆在跑马拉松方面是一位非常有天分的人。故选A。

4.Which statement is TRUE about the record of 1 hr 59 min 40 sec?

A It was a false figure at the 2018 Berlin Marathon.

B It was set when Kipchoge was racing with others.

C It was set before the run was finished.

D It was an unofficial marathon record.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据最后一段最后一句的“it cannot be recognized by World Athletics as the official marathon record”可知，Kipchoge的马拉松最快记录(1小时59分40秒)是在没有任何竞争对手的特殊条件下进行的，因此没能被世界田联认可为官方马拉松记录。故选D。