Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich delivered a historic performance in Chicago on Sunday, smashing the women's marathon world record with an astonishing time of two hours, nine minutes, and 56 seconds. This remarkable achievement shaved nearly two minutes off the previous record of 2:11:53 held by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa, set last year in Berlin.
Chepngetich dominated the race from the start, completing the first five kilometers in just 15 minutes flat. By the halfway mark, she had established a 14-second lead over Ethiopia's Sutume Kebede and continued to widen her lead as the race progressed. Her superior pace allowed her to cross the finish line with an unofficial time of 2:09:56, securing her third Chicago marathon title.
Behind Chepngetich, Ethiopia's Sutume Kebede finished second with a time of 2:17:51, followed by Kenyan Irine Cheptai in third place. On the men's side, Chepngetich's compatriot John Korir won with a time of 2:02:44.
Reflecting on her achievement, Chepngetich expressed her elation, stating, \"This is my dream that has come true.\" Her extraordinary performance not only sets a new benchmark in women's marathon running but also highlights Kenya's enduring legacy in the sport.
