It was a star fall when the women’s World Cup marathon was decided in the morning sun in the American Eugene.
Ruth Chepngetich, Kenya, came to the championship as a clear favorite in the distance but after 1.8 km she was forced to break. Chepngetich could be seen leaving the track to go straight out into a field due to what appeared to be stomach problems.
She then broke the race.
Her season record of just over two hours and 17 minutes had been enough for the gold.
Because when the Ethiopian Gotytom Gebreselase crossed the finish line as world champion at half past eight in the morning local time, it was a time of 2.18.11, a new personal record and a new championship record with just over two minutes.
Second was Kenyan Judith Jeptum Korir and the bronze went to Israeli Lonah Chemtai Salpeter.
Two Swedes were in the starting field.
Carolina Wikström had not received an optimal charge. Days before the World Cup began, her coach tested positive for covid-19, the only Swedish case so far in the World Cup.
Both running colleagues Hanna Lindholm and Wikström escaped infection and ran into 24th and 25th place respectively.
– Then I am actually very happy, even if I had hoped for a little better time, Lindholm says.