Ruth Chepngetich sets new women's Marathon World Record in Chicago
Kenya's marathoner Ruth Chepng’etich. She smashed the women marathon world record after clocking an impressive 2.09.57 making her the first woman to run under 2.10. Courtesy photo
Kenya’s Ruth Chepng’etich delivered a historic performance at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, breaking the women’s marathon world record with a time of 2:09:56.
This achievement marked a significant milestone in marathon history, as Chepngetich became the first woman to finish the race in under 2 hours and 10 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 2:11:53 set by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa at the Berlin Marathon in 2023.
Chepng’etich’s win in Chicago was her third consecutive victory in the Windy City, solidifying her dominance on this course.
From the outset, she displayed incredible form, distancing herself from her rivals within the first half of the race.
By the time she reached the 30-kilometre mark, Chepng’etich had firmly established her lead, leaving Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede and Kenya’s Irine Cheptai far behind.
Her commanding performance was met with cheers as she crossed the finish line, and her record-breaking time cemented her place in marathon history.
Reflecting on her achievement, Chepng’etich expressed immense pride.
“This was my dream, and I’m incredibly grateful. Breaking the world record is something I’ve worked so hard for,” Chepng’etich said.
Meanwhile, in the men's race, another Kenyan--John Korir--also made headlines with his first World Marathon Major title, finishing with a personal best of 2:02:44.
Korir, the younger brother of marathon legend Wesley Korir, took control of the race after the 30-kilometre point and never looked back.
His time ranks him as one of the fastest marathoners in history, placing him sixth on the all-time list.
Korir dedicated his victory to the late Kelvin Kiptum, who set the men’s world marathon record in Chicago just the previous year before tragically passing away in a car accident.
“Winning here means so much to me,” Korir said.
“My brother and Kiptum were always an inspiration, and I’m proud to honour them with this victory.”
With Chepng’etich and Korir’s outstanding performances, the Chicago Marathon continues to be a stage for remarkable athletic achievements, further elevating Kenya’s presence in global marathon running.
President William Ruto and Speaker of National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula are among the key government figures who conveyed congratulatory messages.
