Last year, the Ethiopian Tigst Assefa broke a new world record in the marathon, when she won the Berlin Marathon in a time of 2.11.53.
That record was broken today, however, when the Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich – who pulled away from the rest of the field about halfway into the race – ran to the finish line in 2.09.57 – i.e. almost two minutes faster.
– It feels very good and I am proud of myself, of having won the competition and broken the world record. This is a dream come true, the 30-year-old said in a TV interview shortly after the finish, and continued:
– I have fought so hard and thought a lot about the world record, and now I have fulfilled that dream.
Kenyan men’s victory too
Four of the five fastest marathons of all time have come in the Chicago Marathon.
The men’s world record was also set in the Chicago Marathon. This was last year, when Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum ran in a time of 2.00.35.
Dedicated the victory to Kiptum
Kiptum died tragically in a car accident earlier this year.
– I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum, says Chepngetich, who has won the Chicago Marathon three times before and took WC gold at the distance in 2019.
Also in the men’s race in the Chicago Marathon, there was a Kenyan victory, through John Korir, 27, in a time of 2.02.43.