Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich broke the old world record of 2:11:53 hours by almost two minutes at the Chicago Marathon and was the first runner to stay under the 2:10 barrier. The time is also better than the Austrian men’s record.
After her amazing world record, marathon runner Ruth Chepngetich commemorated her companion, who died this year, wrapped in the Kenyan flag. “I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum,” the 30-year-old said of the man who set the men’s world record in 2023. Also in Chicago, Chepngetich entered a new women’s event.
Winning in 2:09:56 hours – the time was later corrected by one second – she vastly improved the best time set by Ethiopian Tiger Assefa in Berlin just over a year ago ago for about two minutes. Assefa crossed the finish line at the Brandenburg Gate in September 2023 at an impressive 2:11:53 hours. A time that should last for eternity. After a year, this brand is history again.
Ruth Chepngetich and her great time. Reuters / Patrick Gorski
Thank God and a shoe
“I had the world record on my mind. i did it. I thank God,” said Chepngetich. “The weather was perfect. I was very prepared.” Both world records were now held by Kenyans, the new world record holder proudly said. Kiptum died in a car accident in February. He was only 24 years old.
Like Kenyan Brigid Kosgei in her world record in 2019, Chepngetich also used the fast track in Chicago. The 30-year-old had already won the prestigious marathon in 2021 and 2022. Two years ago she missed the world record at the time of 2:14:18 by just 14 hundredths of a second. This time the athlete achieved his celebrated coup, with the support of modern shoe technology and walkers. “I feel great. I am proud of myself,” said Chepngetich. Often overlooked in such a world record hunt is that the route is re-measured every year and you can always gain new seconds at a junction or straight.
The time under 2:10 hours for the world championship in Doha 2019 was unthinkable for a long time. Chepngetich tackled the lucrative race in Chicago very quickly, even at first setting a course for an incredible 2:06 hours. But Chepngetich also wrote a new chapter in the history of the marathon. “That was my dream and it came true,” she said. Sutume Kebede from Ethiopia and Irene Cheptai from Kenya did not cross the finish line around eight minutes after Chepngetich.
Faster than any Austrian
In the men’s race, Kenya’s John Korir won a first class race. A year after Kiptum’s world record, Korir crossed the finish line in 2:02:43 minutes. Kiptum’s world record is 2:00:35 hours. 27-year-old Korir increased the pace impressively in the second half of the race and left his rivals behind starting at the right time. Second was Huseydin Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia, who was almost two minutes slower. Amos Kiproto of Kenya, who won the World Cup bronze medal from Doha, finished the competition in third place.
Two years ago she missed the world record at the time of 2:14:18 by just 14 hundredths of a second. This time the athlete achieved his celebrated coup, with the support of modern shoe technology and walkers. This means the new women’s world record is below the Austrian men’s record set by Peter Herzog, who ran 2:10:06 in London in 2020.
(dpa/apa/ed)