New World Record Set at Chicago Marathon
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich shattered the world record by nearly two minutes, completing the Chicago Marathon in 2:09:56 on Sunday. The 30-year-old athlete broke the previous record set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.
A Historic Win
Chepngetich became the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier in the marathon. This victory marked her third win at the Chicago Marathon, having previously taken the top spot in 2021 and 2022. She expressed pride and satisfaction with her achievement, saying, “I feel so great. I’m very proud of myself. This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record.”
A Tribute to Kelvin Kiptum
Chepngetich dedicated her world record to the late Kelvin Kiptum, a Kenyan athlete who broke the world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon but tragically passed away in a car accident earlier this year. “The world record has come back to Kenya,” Chepngetich said. “I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum.” The event organizers held a moment of silence for Kiptum before the race and provided a memorial sticker for the nearly 50,000 runners to wear on their bibs.
Men’s Division
In the men’s division, John Korir of Kenya took the top spot with a time of 2:02:44, outpacing Huseydin Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia, who finished in 2:04:39. Korir also ran in honor of Kelvin Kiptum.
A Memorable Event
The 26.2-mile race started and ended in Grant Park, with thousands of spectators cheering on the athletes. The event was marked by a sense of community and camaraderie, as runners came together to celebrate their shared passion for the sport.
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