A new generation of Kenyan distance runners will line up in Paris on Sunday with a straightforward but ambitious goal: break one of the longest-standing world records in road running.
The six-man squad will compete in the Ekiden de Paris, a marathon-length relay race, targeting the men’s world record of 1:57:06, which was set nearly 20 years ago by another Kenyan team in 2005 at the Chiba Ekiden in Japan.
Their goal is to go one minute faster, aiming for 1:56 flat, which would require a sustained pace of 2:46 per kilometer across the full 42.195 km.
A Record That’s Stood Since 2005
The current world record was set on November 23, 2005, by a Kenyan team featuring Josephat Ndambiri, Martin Mathathi, and John Kariuki, among others. That race, held at the now-defunct International Chiba Ekiden, remains the gold standard for the marathon relay.
Since then, the Ekiden format has faded from international attention, particularly after the Chiba event was discontinued in 2014. While the discipline still thrives in Japan, especially at the university and corporate levels, official world record attempts have been rare.
That makes this weekend’s attempt in Paris notable, both for its rarity and for what it represents, a return to a team-focused format in a sport that increasingly revolves around individual performances.
The Team
The Kenyan squad in Paris includes John Lomoni, Amos Kipkemoi, Meshack Lelgut, Brian Kibor, Ezra Ondiso, and Elisha Kiprop, a group mostly made up of young road racers with national-level experience. Several team members were still children when the current record was set.
They’ve been training in Iten, Kenya, with support from Kiprun, the running division of French sports brand Decathlon, which is sponsoring the record attempt. Kiprun has promoted the build-up through short films and social media clips, positioning the effort as a cross-cultural project between Kenyan athletes and a French brand.
“Six runners. One mission: chase a world record,” Kiprun wrote on Instagram earlier this week. “More than performance, it’s the start of a journey where cultures meet, talents unite, and ambition becomes collective.”
What is an Ekiden?
The Ekiden originated in Japan and is a relay covering the full marathon distance, divided into six legs:
- 5 km
- 10 km
- 5 km
- 10 km
- 5 km
- 7.195 km
Instead of a baton, runners pass a cloth sash called a ‘tasuki’, which is worn across the chest. The format emphasizes team pacing and coordination. In Japan, Ekidens remain extremely popular, with races like the Hakone Ekiden drawing millions of TV viewers each year.
For this record attempt, the course and leg distances have been standardized to meet World Athletics regulations for a record-eligible Ekiden.
Kenya’s History with the Ekiden
Kenya has a long history in Ekiden racing, particularly in Japan. During the 1990s and 2000s, Kenyan teams regularly competed and won at the IAAF World Road Relay Championships and the Chiba Ekiden.
Kenyan runners have also been a fixture on Japanese corporate and university teams, where they’re often recruited for their speed and endurance. That tradition continues today, and this Paris race feels like a natural extension of that legacy.
If successful, this team won’t just reclaim a world record, they’ll draw fresh attention to a format that values team depth and strategy over solo heroics. In an era dominated by super shoes, pacers, and time-trial-style marathons, the Ekiden stands out for its simplicity and collaborative nature.
The attempt will require near-perfect execution. Even if they fall short, it’s a meaningful reminder of what team-based racing can look like at the highest level.
