Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich broke the women’s world record by almost two minutes at the Chicago marathon on Sunday, winning in 2:09:56.
Chepngetich became the first woman to break a marathon time of 2 hours and 10 minutes. The 30-year-old broke the previous record of 2:11:53, set by Ethiopian Tigist Assefa during the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
Chepngetich has an impressive track record at the Chicago Marathon: She also won the race in 2021 and 2022 and finished second last year. Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia was second Sunday in 2:17:32.
“I feel so good. I’m proud of myself and I thank God for the victory and the world record,” Chepngetich told NBC Chicago after the race. “It’s my dream that came true. I fight a lot thinking about the world record and I achieved it and I am very grateful for that.
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It was obvious from the start that Chepngetich’s race, in which she averaged 4:57.4 per mile, would be special. She covered the first five kilometers in just 15 minutes and completed the first half of the course in 1:04:16, which would have been the fifth fastest women’s half marathon of all time. This victory earned her $100,000 and she earned an additional $50,000 for breaking the course record.
Chepngetich’s compatriot John Korir won the men’s race in 2:02:44, ahead of Ethiopia’s Huseydin Mohamed Esa, who finished in 2:04:39. Korir and Chepngetich ran in honor of the late Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya, who broke the men’s world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
“The world record went to Kenya,” Chepngetich said. “I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum.”
In February, Kiptum, 24, and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a car accident. Police said Kiptum lost control of his vehicle before hitting a tree near a training area in Kaptagat, Kenya.
Organizers observed a minute of silence for Kiptum before the race and offered the nearly 50,000 runners a commemorative sticker to add to their bib.