Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich smashes the world record in Chicago and becomes the first woman to go under 2h10

Tigist Assefa’s record only lasted a little over a year. The Ethiopian’s time (2h11’53” in Berlin) was erased from the shelves by the Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich, Sunday October 13, during the Chicago marathon. By winning in 2h09’57”, the 30-year-old athlete years old simply became the first woman to go under the 2h10 mark, where the late Kelvin Kiptum had established the best men’s mark in history a year ago (2h00’35”). She relegated her first rival , the Ethiopian Sutume Asefa Kebede, almost eight minutes back (2h17’32”), who was ahead of another Kenyan, Irine Cheptai (2h17’51”).

“I dedicate this record to Kelvin (Kiptum), he also broke a world record here and he could have broken one again, reacted Chepngetich after the finish. I am very proud of myself. I had this world record in mind, it was my dream, and today everything was perfect: the weather, and my preparation.”. The Kenyan’s feat is extraordinary. She ran the entire race at a pace never approached by women. At the 10th kilometer, she was on pace for 2h07’30”, before slowing down very slightly.

The 2019 marathon world champion, she had already won the Chicago Marathon twice, in 2021 and 2022. Before Sunday, her personal best over the distance was 2h14’18”.