Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum shattered the men's marathon world record in Chicago on Sunday as he finished the race in two hours and 35 seconds, beating compatriot Eliud Kipchoge's previous mark by 34 seconds.

Kiptum won the race by almost three and a half minutes, as defending champion Benson Kipruto came second in 2:04:02 and Bashir Abdi was third in 2:04:32.

The 23-year-old, who won the London Marathon in April this year, improved on that performance by 50 seconds to break the world record mark of 2:01:09 set by Kipchoge in Berlin last year.

"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, who pushed the pace throughout the 26.2-mile race, broke away from a seven-strong lead group after reaching 5km in 14:26, joined only by his compatriot Daniel Mateiko.

The pair were outside world record pace when they reached halfway in 1:00:48, but as Kiptum kicked away with 10km to go, it looked as if Kipchoge’s record could be broken.

Covering 5km distance between the 30km-35km stretch at 13:51, Kiptum looked on track to go under two hours and one minute and he continued to stride on at the front.

Kibet dropped out in the latter stages, but Kiptum showed no signs of giving up and ran the second half-marathon in 59:47 for a rare negative split.

Kiptum crossed the tape in jubilation, raising his arms as he waved and blew kisses at spectators.

"I saw the time in front of me. I felt good inside of me, maybe a little adrenaline. I said let me try - maybe I can run under 2:00," Kiptum said. "I knew one day I would be a world-record holder."

In the women’s race, Dutch star Sifan Hassan took home the winner’s medal as she finished in 2:13:44, one minute 53 seconds ahead of Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich, while Ethiopian Alemu Megertu was third.

Hassan’s marathon victory came six weeks after she won a 1500m bronze and 5000m silver at the World Championships in Budapest.

Hassan moved to No.2 on the women’s all-time list – behind Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who set a world record of 2:11:53 to win the Berlin Marathon last month.

“The first group took off at a crazy pace, but I wanted to join that group,” said Hassan. “The last five kilometres, I suffered. Wow ­– I won again in my second marathon in a fantastic time. I couldn't be happier.”