Ruth Chepng’etich has dedicated her world record set at the Chicago Marathon to the late Kelvin Kiptum, who was a world record holder before his passing in February this year. In the race held on Sunday, October 13, Chepng’etich shattered the previous record by nearly two minutes, finishing with a time of 2:09:56.
In her post-race interview, Chepng’etich expressed her pride and the significance of the achievement, stating, “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,” as reported by World Athletics.
Chepng’etich’s remarkable performance eclipsed the former record of 2:11:53 set by Tigist Assefa in Berlin in 2023. This victory marks her third win at the Chicago Marathon and a significant improvement from her previous best of 2:14:18, which she achieved when she won the race in 2022.
Throughout the race, Chepng’etich maintained an impressive pace. She completed the first 5km in 15:00, with Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede closely following. By the 10km mark, she had recorded an astonishing time of 30:14, with Kebede just two seconds behind.
Chepng’etich reached the halfway point in an impressive 1:04:16, marking the fifth-fastest half marathon split in history, indicating she was on track for a sub-2:09 finish.
As the race progressed, her lead over Kebede continued to expand. By the time she reached 30km, her time was 1:31:49, and she held nearly a two-minute advantage over her Ethiopian competitor. Her subsequent 10km was her slowest of the race at 31:22 but still significantly fast, extending her lead to over six minutes.
With just over two kilometers remaining, Chepng’etich remained well ahead of the world record pace, increasing the likelihood of breaking the record with every step.
Chepng’etich’s record is currently pending the standard ratification process by World Athletics.
