Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich has shattered the marathon world record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, winning the World Athletics Platinum Label road race in 2:09:56.

Chepngetich broke Tigist Assefa’s world record of 2:11:53, set in Berlin last year, by almost two minutes to win her third Chicago Marathon victory.

Compared to her previous best of 2:14:18 set in 2022, Chepngetich improved by more than four minutes.

“Chepngetich’s intent was clear from the start. She breezed through the first 5km in 15:00 and had Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede for company, and then reached 10km in an astonishing 30:14 with Kebede still just two seconds behind,” World Athletics reported.

“Chepngetich continued her relentless pace and hit the half-way mark in an incredible 1:04:16, the fifth-fastest clocking in history for the half marathon distance and putting her on course for a sub-2:09 finish. Kebede had started to drop behind, but she was still operating well inside world record pace, reaching the half-way point in 1:04:30, three minutes ahead of Joyciline Jepkosgei.”

Chepngetich dedicates victory to Kiptum

Chepngetich has dedicated her victory to the late male marathon record holder Kevin Kiptum.

“I feel so great. I’m very proud of myself. This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record. The world record has come back to Kenya, and I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum,” she stated.

Kebede held on for second place in 2:17:32 while Kenya’s Irine Cheptai came through for third place in 2:17:52.

On the other hand, John Korir took the men’s title in 2:02:43, the second-fastest time ever recorded in Chicago behind the world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023.