Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich made history on Sunday by breaking the women’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon. The 30-year-old clocked an astonishing time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 57 seconds, shattering the previous record by almost two minutes.
Chepngetich is the first woman to run a marathon in under two hours and 10 minutes, surpassing Ethiopian Tigst Assefa’s former record of 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds, which was set at the Berlin Marathon in 2023.
‘I feel so great, I’m proud of myself. This is my dream that has come true,’ said Chepngetich, the 2019 world marathon champion. ‘I’ve fought hard thinking about breaking the world record, and today I fulfilled it.’
This victory marks Chepngetich’s third win in Chicago, following her 2021 and 2022 successes. She narrowly missed breaking Brigid Kosgei’s then-world record by just 14 seconds in 2022. The flat Chicago course, renowned for fast times, has hosted four of the five fastest women’s marathons in the past six years.
Men’s winner Korir dedicates win to Kiptum
In the men’s race, Kenya’s John Korir achieved a personal best with a time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 44 seconds to claim victory. He emerged from a competitive field of seven leaders to secure the win.
Korir dedicated his triumph to the late world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, who tragically died in a car accident earlier this year. Kiptum had set the men’s world record of 2 hours and 35 seconds at the same Chicago Marathon in 2023.
‘Today I was thinking about Kiptum and his incredible achievement last year. I told myself, “If he could run under 2:01, why not me?” So I had to believe in myself and do my best,’ said Korir.
Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa finished second, while Amos Kipruto, one of four Kenyans in the top five, took third place.
