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Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich made history on Sunday, obliterating the women’s marathon world record with a stunning time of 2:09:56 at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
The World Athletics Platinum Label road race saw Chepngetich beat the previous world record of 2:11:53, set by Tigist Assefa in Berlin last year, by nearly two minutes.
This victory also marked Chepngetich’s third win in Chicago, and she improved her personal best by more than four minutes, having run 2:14:18 at the same event in 2022.
Chepngetich set an aggressive pace from the outset, racing through the first 5km in 15:00, with Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede keeping close behind. By the 10km mark, the Kenyan clocked an incredible 30:14, still just two seconds ahead of Kebede.
By the half-way point, Chepngetich had recorded an astonishing 1:04:16, the fifth-fastest half marathon time ever, and was on course for a sub-2:09 finish. Kebede followed closely with a time of 1:04:30, but the gap began to widen.
As the race wore on, Chepngetich’s lead continued to grow, pulling ahead by almost two minutes by the 30km mark.
Even with her pace slowing slightly in the final kilometers, she maintained a comfortable lead over her rivals. Crossing the finish line in 2:09:56, she became the first woman in history to break the 2:10 barrier.
“I feel so great. I’m very proud of myself. This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record. The world record has come back to Kenya, and I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum,” said an emotional Chepngetich after the race, referencing her compatriot, the late world record holder in the men’s event.
Kebede finished in second place, clocking 2:17:32, while Kenya’s Irine Cheptai secured the third spot with a time of 2:17:52. Chepngetich’s victory further solidified her status as one of the greatest marathon runners of her generation.
In the men’s race, Kenya’s John Korir claimed the title with a commanding time of 2:02:43, the second-fastest time ever recorded in Chicago.
After a relatively conservative first half, Korir surged ahead, breaking free from a lead pack that included fellow Kenyans Daniel Ebenyo and Amos Kipruto. Korir’s negative splits were particularly impressive, covering the second half of the race in just 1:00:24 to seal victory.
Ethiopia’s Huseydin Mohamed Esa took second place with a time of 2:04:39, while Kipruto finished third in 2:04:50. Korir’s performance was only bettered in Chicago by the world record set last year by Kelvin Kiptum, who completed the course in 2:00:35.
The 2024 Chicago Marathon was a showcase of Kenyan excellence, with Chepngetich and Korir’s victories highlighting the country’s dominance in long-distance running.
Both athletes left lasting marks on one of the world’s most prestigious marathons, furthering Kenya’s legacy in the sport. [Additional reporting by World Athletics]
