Ruth Chepngetich shatters women’s world record at Chicago Marathon
Chepngetich, 30, is a one-time world champion. Entering Sunday, Chepngetich’s personal best in a full marathon was 2:14:18, set two years ago on Oct. 9, 2022. Her record for a half marathon is 1:04:02, set on April 4, 2021.
Sunday marked Chepngetich’s third win at the Chicago Marathon after taking gold in the 2021 and 2022 events.
She clocked a 1:04:16 at the halfway point on Sunday — the fifth-fastest time in history for the half marathon distance, according to World Athletics. She dedicated her world record to the late Kelvin Kiptum, a Kenyan runner who died in a car crash in February after breaking the men’s world marathon record in Chicago last year.
“I feel so great. I’m very proud of myself,” Chepngetich said Sunday, according to World Athletics. “This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record. The world record has come back to Kenya.”