Ethiopian runner Tamirat Tola has broken the Boston Marathon course record and set a new world marathon record of 1:59:18, becoming the second human to officially break the 2-hour barrier in a sanctioned race.

Historic Race

Tola dedicated his run to the late Kelvin Kiptum, whose unofficial sub-2 hour training splits inspired a generation of marathoners. Perfect conditions — 52°F, tailwind — helped make history.

The Performance

Tola hit the halfway mark in 59:45 and maintained a devastating pace through the Newton Hills. He crossed the finish line 42 seconds under 2 hours, shattering what many thought was impossible on the Boston course.