Sunday, 13 October 2019:

Eliud Kipchoge's landmark sub-two hour marathon had a solid Australian contribution.

Jack Rayner, Stewart McSweyn, Brett Robinson and Pat Tiernan were among the 41 pacemakers who helped the Kenyan great become the first man to break the two-hour barrier.

Kipchoge clocked one hour 59 minutes 40 minutes on Saturday but the time is an unofficial world record because it was not an open race and pacemakers were used.

He set the time in Vienna on a looped course, with a rotating phalanx of pacesetters around him throughout to protect Kipchoge from the wind.

They operated in groups of seven, five in front of Kipchoge and two behind.

The high-quality contingent included compatriot Bernard Lagat, the two-time Olympic medallist over 1500m.

Reigning Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz from the United States also was involved.

"What an experience to be part of this incredible attempt and to be surrounded by this calibre of athletes from around the world," McSweyn said.

"There's nothing better than to run with the world's fastest."

Kipchoge also fell 25 seconds short of the milestone in a similar bid at the Monza motor-racing circuit.

Nothing was left to chance, with a pace car projecting laser beams onto the road surface so the pacers knew exactly where they should be positioned.

Kipchoge also holds the official marathon world record of 2:01:39 last year at the Berlin marathon.

There has been widespread acclaim for his breakthrough sub-two hour feat, which is being compared to Sir Roger Bannister's sub-four minute mile in 1954.

AAP