Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich delivered a historic performance at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, demolishing the women’s marathon world record with an unofficial time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds. Her extraordinary run shaved nearly two minutes off the previous record of 2:11:53, set by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in Berlin last year.
Chepngetich, the 2019 world champion, dominated the race from the start, pulling away from the competition by the halfway mark. She maintained a blistering pace throughout, finishing to thunderous cheers on the final straight as she claimed her third Chicago title.
“This is my dream that has come true,” Chepngetich said after her record-breaking run. Her time was initially recorded as 2:09:57 but was later adjusted to 2:09:56.
Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede finished second, crossing the line seven minutes and 36 seconds later, while Kenya’s Irine Cheptai took third place with a time of 2:17:51.
In the men’s race, Kenyan John Korir secured victory with a time of 2:02:44, dedicating his performance to compatriot Kelvin Kiptum, who set the men’s world record in Chicago last year and tragically died in a car crash four months later.
Chepngetich’s record-breaking run, which commentators compared to the moon landing in terms of its significance, showcased her exceptional endurance and strategy. She dedicated her performance to Kiptum, stating, “World record was in my mind. Chicago, as I said in the press, is like home.”
This historic achievement not only cements Chepngetich’s place in marathon history but also underscores Kenya’s continued dominance in long-distance running.
