Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich delivered a historic performance at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, shattering the world marathon record by nearly two minutes.
Chepngetich clocked an astonishing 2:09:56, obliterating Tigist Assefa’s previous world record of 2:11:53 set last year in Berlin. In doing so, Chepngetich became the first woman in history to break the 2:10 barrier, adding another remarkable achievement to her growing legacy.
This victory marked Chepngetich’s third triumph in Chicago, where she also demolished her personal best by more than four minutes. Her previous best of 2:14:18 was set in the same race in 2022.
“I feel so great. I’m very proud of myself. This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record,” an elated Chepngetich said after the race. “The world record has come back to Kenya, and I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum,” she added, referring to the late Kenyan marathon legend.
Chepngetich’s intent was clear from the start, surging through the first 5km in a blistering 15:00, with Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede close behind. By the 10km mark, she had clocked an incredible 30:14, with Kebede still within striking distance, just two seconds behind.
Maintaining a relentless pace, Chepngetich crossed the halfway mark in 1:04:16, the fifth-fastest half marathon ever recorded, putting her well on track for a sub-2:09 finish. Kebede, too, was racing at a world-record pace, passing the halfway point in 1:04:30, ahead of Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei.
As the race progressed, the gap between Chepngetich and Kebede widened, with Chepngetich reaching the 30km mark in 1:31:49, holding a lead of nearly two minutes.
Despite a slight drop in her pace, Chepngetich continued to distance herself from the field, eventually crossing the finish line in 2:09:56. Kebede held on for second place in 2:17:32, while Kenya’s Irine Cheptai finished third in 2:17:52.
Meanwhile, in the men’s race, Kenya’s John Korir claimed the title with a dominant performance, finishing in 2:02:43. Korir’s time was the second-fastest ever recorded at the Chicago Marathon, behind Kelvin Kiptum’s world record of 2:00:35 from last year.
The men’s race started conservatively, with a pack of 10 athletes passing the 10km mark in 29:27 and remaining together through the halfway point, which they crossed in 1:02:19. Korir, alongside compatriots Daniel Ebenyo and Amos Kipruto, pushed the pace in the second half.
By the 30km mark, Korir had broken away from the lead group, creating a gap that continued to widen. He crossed the finish line in 2:02:43, having covered the second half of the race in an impressive 1:00:24.
Ethiopia’s Huseydin Mohamed Esa finished second in 2:04:39, with Kipruto securing third in 2:04:50.
