Chicago: Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya has set a new women’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon, clocking in at an astonishing 2:09:56—almost two minutes quicker than the previous record. Chepngetich decisively pulled ahead of her opponents by the halfway point, enjoying vigorous support from the crowd as she claimed her third Chicago Marathon title.
The 30-year-old athlete shattered the previous record of 2:11:53, set by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in Berlin last year. Following Chepngetich across the finish line was Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede, who finished in 2:17:32, with Kenyan Irine Cheptai taking third place at 2:17:51.
Chepngetich exclaimed after her victory stating that, “This is my dream that has come true.” She devoted her record-breaking performance to Kelvin Kiptum, the men’s world record holder who tragically passed away in a car accident earlier this year. Chepngetich stated that, “The world record has come back to Kenya, and I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum. I’ve fought a lot, thinking about the world record, and I have fulfilled it.”
In a touching tribute, runners followed a moment of silence at the start of the race for Kiptum. Organisers provided stickers displaying his record-breaking time of 2:00:35 for the 50,000 participants to connect to their race bibs.
Chepngetich, who previously won in 2021 and 2022, set a blistering pace early on, reaching the halfway mark in 1:04:16—the fifth-fastest time in history for a female half marathon. She conveyed that, “The weather was perfect, and I was well-prepared. The world record was in my mind.”
Television commentators were left in awe of her pace, associating her pursuit of a sub-2:10 marathon with a monumental achievement akin to the moon landing. Chepngetich maintained her momentum, sprinting through the final two miles and collapsing in exhaustion as she crossed the finish line.
In the men’s race, fellow Kenyan John Korir emerged victorious with a time of 2:02:44, finishing ahead of Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa (2:04:39) and compatriot Amos Kipruto (2:04:50). Korir was part of a leading group of seven runners until he rushed ahead in the final stretch after a more conservative start. Korir’s remarkable time stands as the second-fastest ever recorded in Chicago, hardening the race’s reputation as a premier event in the marathon calendar.
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