Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich delivered an unforgettable performance on Sunday as she shattered the women’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon, finishing in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds. This remarkable achievement saw her improve upon the previous record by nearly two minutes.
Chepngetich separated herself from the pack by the halfway mark, running triumphantly through the crowd’s cheers to secure her third Chicago title and surpass the former record of 2:11:53 set by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa last year in Berlin.
Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede finished the race seven minutes and 36 seconds behind Chepngetich, while Kenyan Irine Cheptai took third place with a time of 2:17:51.
“This is a dream come true for me,” Chepngetich expressed, although her time was initially recorded as 2:09:57 before being adjusted. John Korir from Kenya won the men’s marathon in a time of 2:02:44.
Chepngetich set a blistering pace right from the start, completing the first five kilometers in exactly 15 minutes. By the halfway point, she had already established a 14-second lead over Kebede.
Television commentators were in awe as Chepngetich powered through the course, likening her attempt at finishing under 2:10 to the historic moon landing. She seemed to gain speed during the last two miles, culminating in a spectacular finish.
After crossing the finish line, she collapsed in exhaustion and dedicated her victory to her fellow countryman Kelvin Kiptum, who set the men’s world record in Chicago a year prior but tragically passed away in a car accident four months later.
“I had the world record in my mind,” Chepngetich stated in a post-race interview. “Chicago feels like home to me.”
The marathon commenced with a moment of silence for Kiptum, who previously finished in 2:00:35, as participants began the race under ideal conditions in the Windy City.
Korir maintained his position within a tightly packed leading group for the first 30 kilometers before making his decisive move, reaching a nearly 30-second lead by the 35-kilometer mark. He cruised through the final stretch, finishing with his arms raised in celebration, achieving a personal best in what marked his first major title.
Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa came in second with a time of 2:04:39, and Kenyan Amos Kipruto secured third place at 2:04:50.
“Today, I was thinking of Kiptum,” Korir reflected. “I had to trust myself and give it my all.”
