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Ruth Chepngetich smashed the women’s marathon world record in Chicago, setting a historic time to break the 2:10:00 barrier.
The Kenyan clocked an astonishing time of 2:09:57, eclipsing the previous record of 2:11:53 set by Tigst Assefa in Berlin last September.
An emotional Chepngetich’s dedicated her world record to the late Kelvin Kiptum, who broke the men’s marathon world record in Chicago 12 months before the Kenyan’s tragic death at the age of 24 earlier this year.
“This world record I’m dedicating to Kelvin Kiptum,” she said. “I’m so happy. I don’t know how to explain.”
Chepngetich, who won the Chicago Marathon for the third time after previous victories in 2021 and 2022, was stunned after crossing the finish line.
“I feel so great,” she said. “The world record is my dream, that has now come true. I fought a lot thinking about the world record and now I’ve fulfilled it. I’m so grateful.
“This year the weather was perfect and I prepared well. The world record was on my mind.”
The 2:10:00 barrier was long considered unbreakable for a woman, and was compared to the 2:00:00 mark for elite men’s marathon runners.
Chepngetich had previously ranked fourth on the all-time list but chalked almost five minutes off her personal best – set in Chicago two years ago.
Her victory completed a Kenyan double in Chicago, as John Korir won the men’s race – a fitting tribute to the late Kiptum, who set his world record in the American city last October and was tipped to break the two-hour barrier.
More follows