Ruth Chepngetich, of Kenya, crosses the finish line of the Chicago Marathon to win the women’s professional division and break the women’s marathon world record in Grant Park on Sunday, October 13, 2024.
10:26 JST, October 14, 2024
CHICAGO (AP) — Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya broke the world record by nearly two minutes Sunday at the Chicago Marathon, winning in 2:09:56.
The 30-year-old Chepngetich broke the world record of Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia in 2:11:53 during the Berlin Marathon in 2023. Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia finished second in 2:17:32.
“I feel so great. I am very proud of myself,” Chepngetich said. “This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record.”
Chepngetich became the first woman to break a time of 2:10 in the marathon. She also won the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and 2022 and finished second last year.
John Korir of Kenya won the men’s race in 2:02:44, beating 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 world record by 34 seconds, finishing in 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
Runners cross the LaSalle Street Bridge during the Chicago Marathon, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Chicago.
“The world record has returned to Kenya,” Chepngetich said. “I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum.”
Police said Kiptum, 24, and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, died in a car crash in February after crashing into a tree near a training ground in Kaptagat, Kenya.
The organizers held a moment of silence for Kiptum before the race and offered the almost 50,000 runners a commemorative sticker to stick on their starting number. The 42.2 mile race started and ended in Grant Park.
