3 days ago
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Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich smashed the women’s world record by nearly two minutes at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, winning in 2:09:56.
Chepngetich became the first woman to break 2 hours and 10 minutes in the marathon. The 30-year-old broke the previous record of 2:11:53, which was set by Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
Chepngetich has an impressive record at the Chicago Marathon: she also won the race in 2021 and 2022 and finished runner-up last year. Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia finished second on Sunday in 2:17:32.
“I feel so great. I’m proud of myself and I thank God for the victory and the world record,” Chepngetich told NBC Chicago after the race. “This is my dream that has come true. I fight a lot thinking about world record and I have fulfilled it and I’m much grateful.”
Chepngetich’s compatriot, John Korir, won the men’s race in 2:02:44, ahead of Huseydin Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia, 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.
In February the 24-year-old Kiptum 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 held a moment of silence for Kiptum before the race and offered the nearly 50,000 runners a memorial sticker to add to their bibs.
English (US) ·