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Two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge ends 3-year victory drought, wins Melbourne Marathon

Sport

Two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge ends 3-year victory drought, wins Melbourne Marathon
Sport

Sport

Two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge ends 3-year victory drought, wins Melbourne Marathon

2026-10-11 08:27 Last Updated At:08:40

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge set a race record Sunday in winning the Melbourne Marathon. And it could have been a few seconds faster.

The 41-year-old from Kenya, a former world record holder and who won gold medals at the 2016 and 2020 Games, slowed down to wave to spectators inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the last half-lap was run.

Kipchoge, who won his last marathon in September 2023 at Berlin, broke away inside the last 10 kilometers of the 42.2-kilometer race Sunday and crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 10 seconds, two seconds inside the previous race record.

Kipchoge's Kenyan compatriot Timothy Kiplagat Ronoh held the previous Melbourne record of 2:09:12 set in 2022.

Australian Thomas Do Canto was runner-up Sunday in 2:10:35 and New Zealand’s Camille French won the women’s race in 2:28:25.

See AP’s full sports coverage here

Eliud Kipchoge, of Kenya, crosses the finish line to win the men's category during the Melbourne Marathon in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

Eliud Kipchoge, of Kenya, crosses the finish line to win the men's category during the Melbourne Marathon in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)

The top-ranked Texas Longhorns’ first loss of the season came at the hands of an unranked Oklahoma Sooners team, as kicker Tate Sandell drilled a 47-yard field goal to seal the 27-24 upset in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday night.

Two of Oklahoma's three scores stemmed from special teams or defense, as Danny Okoye blocked the Longhorns' punt, which Dakoda Fields scooped up and returned for a touchdown, and Peyton Bowen notched a 42-yard pick-six off Arch Manning.

It was a much-needed morale boost for the Sooners and coach Brent Venables after dropping to 2-2 after a 41-13 beatdown from Georgia in Week 4.

And across the conference, South Carolina coach Shane Beamer similarly silenced critics with a road upset over No. 16 Florida.

The Gamecocks held running back Jadan Baugh to under 60 rushing yards, outscored Florida 21-9 in the second half and forced three turnovers in the 38-19 win.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers accounted for five touchdowns — four passing and one on foot.

The Gamecocks improved to 3-3 on the season, potentially quieting questions about Beamer’s job security for another week.

No. 21 UCLA kept its undefeated record alive with a 17-15 win over No. 13 Oregon in a messy, turnover-filled outing.

The Ducks threw two interceptions and lost five fumbles in the upset loss. The fifth fumble came during Oregon's final drive with less than a minute left and aspirations of a game-winning field goal on the line.

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava had 162 yards and two interceptions before sitting out the second half with a lower leg injury. Ty Dieffenbach took over under center and threw for 43 yards and a touchdown.

Oregon backup quarterback Dylan Raiola's heroic performance against USC felt like a distant memory as he completed just 6-of-18 passes for 43 yards and two interceptions before being replaced by Brock Thomas.

The No. 7-ranked Indiana Hoosiers remained unbeaten on Saturday, but needed a fourth-quarter rally and two late defensive stops to escape Nebraska with a 20-17 win.

The defending national champions erased an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit with back-to-back touchdown drives. Quarterback Josh Hoover connected with Nick Marsh on both, first for a 75-yard score, then on a fourth-down conversion for a 44-yard touchdown.

But Indiana’s narrow escape could be an appetizer for what’s to come.

It might be soggy. It might be windy. And it might be one of the best games of the year.

Saturday night's showdown carries the usual high stakes that tend to come when the Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0 SEC) and Crimson Tide (5-0, 3-0) get together of late: The winner gets a boost in making the SEC championship game, a top resume-builder for College Football Playoff seeding and perhaps a chance at bumping No. 1 Texas out of the top spot in The Associated Press Top 25 on Sunday.

Seven of the last 11 meetings have taken place at neutral sites, including five SEC championship games and two national title games. Georgia has not won in Tuscaloosa since 2007, but it brings a suffocating defense and under-the-radar quarterback Gunner Stockton, who averages a nation-best 51.4 points per game.

Alabama counters with Heisman Trophy contender Keelon Russell at QB and an offense averaging 49.6 points per game, third nationally. Its defense was lights out a week ago while shutting down Mississippi State, turning a highly anticipated game into a blowout.

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here

Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell (29) kicks the game-winning field goal as time expires in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell (29) kicks the game-winning field goal as time expires in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

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