Ruth Chepngetich set new women’s marathon world record as Korir triumphs
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon once again was filled with personal records, historic finishes and inspirational moments as Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya obliterated the women’s world record by almost two minutes Sunday as she won the Chicago Marathon in 2:09:56,
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich delivered a historic run to claim her third Chicago Marathon title as she obliterated the previous world record by nearly two minutes as she won the Chicago Marathon in 2:09:56.
On the other hand, John Korir achieved a long-anticipated victory at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, crossing the finish line with a remarkable time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 44 seconds.
This personal best time not only secured Korir his first Chicago title but also ranked as the second-fastest marathon finish in history, trailing only the world record set by Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.
Chepngetich aged 30 years stormed to an impressive win, where she became the first woman to break the 2:10 and 2:11 barriers.
She ranked 11th overall, as fellow Kenyan Korir made it a double for the African country in the men’s race.
Chepngetich ditched the competition by the halfway mark and ran through a chorus of cheers through the final straight as she claimed her third title in Chicago and crushed Ethiopian Tigst Assefa’s previous record of 2:11:53, set last year in Berlin.
Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede crossed the line seven minutes and 36 seconds later while Kenyan Irine Cheptai (2:17:51) was third.
“This is my dream that has come true,” said Chepngetich, whose time was originally recorded as 2:09:57 but was later adjusted.
Chepngetich set a blistering pace from the start, running the first five kilometres in 15 minutes flat and by the halfway mark she had built a 14-second cushion between herself and Kebede.
Television commentators were astonished as she grinded through the course, comparing her attempt at a sub-2:10 marathon to the moon landing, and she only seemed to gain momentum as she sprinted through the final two miles.
Chepngetich, the 2019 world champion, hunched over in utter exhaustion after breaking the tape and dedicated her performance to compatriot Kelvin Kiptum, who broke the men’s world record a year ago in Chicago and died in a car crash four months later.
“World record was in my mind,” she said in televised remarks. “Chicago, as I said in the press, is like home.”
In the men’s race, Korir, brother of former Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir, won with a personal best time of 2:02:43—the second-fastest time in the event’s history.
Korir improved on his fourth-place finish from last year and surpassed his third-place result from 2022. Ethiopia’s Huseydin Mohammed Esa took second place with a time of 2:04:39, while 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto finished third at 2:04:50.
