Kenya’s Chepngetich Smashes Women’s Marathon World Record

Kenyan runner Ruth Chepngetich delivered a phenomenal performance in Chicago on Sunday, smashing the women’s marathon world record by almost two minutes, finishing in an unofficial time of 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds.

Chepngetich surged ahead at the halfway point and continued through the final stretch, cheered on by the crowd, to claim her third title in Chicago and break the previous world record set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa, who ran 2:11:53 last year in Berlin.

Ethiopian Sutume Kebede finished second, crossing the line 7 minutes and 36 seconds later, while Kenya’s Irene Cheptai came third with a time of 2:17:51.

Chepngetich’s time was initially recorded as 2:09:57 but was later adjusted. She expressed her joy, saying, “This is my dream come true.”

Her fellow Kenyan John Korir won the men’s race in 2:02:44.

Chepngetich set a blistering pace from the start, completing the first five kilometers in just 15 minutes, and by the halfway mark, she had opened a 14-second gap over Kebede.

Commentators were in awe as they watched Chepngetich dominate the course, comparing her attempt to break the 2-hour 10-minute mark in the marathon to landing on the moon. She appeared to gain even more momentum in the final two miles of the race.

After crossing the finish line, the exhausted 2019 world champion dedicated her achievement to fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum, who had set the men’s world record in Chicago a year earlier but tragically died in a car accident four months later.

Speaking in a post-race interview, Chepngetich said, “The world record has always been on my mind. As I told the press, Chicago feels like home.”

The day began with a minute of silence in memory of Kiptum, who had set a time of 2:00:35 last year. Meanwhile, Korir stayed close to the lead pack for the first 30 kilometers before surging ahead, finishing 30 seconds in front of the competition to set a new personal best and claim his first major title.

Ethiopian Mohammed Essa finished second with a time of 2:04:39, while Kenyan Amos Kipruto came third in 2:04:50.

Korir commented, “I was thinking of Kiptum today. I had to believe in myself and give my best.”