Kenyan marathon runner Ruth Chepngetich made history at the 2024 Chicago Marathon by breaking the women’s world marathon record with an extraordinary time of 2:09:56, shaving nearly two minutes off the previous record. This remarkable achievement makes her the first woman to run the 26.2-mile distance in under 2 hours and 10 minutes, placing 10th overall in the race, with only nine men finishing ahead of her.
Chepngetich’s triumph comes after a narrow miss in the 2022 Chicago Marathon, where she finished just 14 seconds shy of the world record. Reflecting on her victory, she expressed immense pride and joy, stating, “This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record.”
Her achievement holds a special significance for Kenya, as she dedicated the victory to the late Kelvin Kiptum, a fellow Kenyan marathon runner who tragically passed away earlier in 2024. Kiptum, known for his groundbreaking marathon record of 2:00:35 set in Chicago the previous year, had inspired Chepngetich and others to push the boundaries of long-distance running.
In the men’s race, Kenyan John Korir also delivered a stellar performance, finishing with a time of 2:02:43, the second-fastest marathon ever run in Chicago, just behind Kiptum’s record.
Chepngetich’s record-breaking feat and dedication to her fallen compatriot marked a momentous day for Kenyan long-distance running.
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