Chepngetich wins the Chicago Marathon in 2:09:56, dedicating the file to Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a automotive accident.
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich has put in a efficiency for the ages as she obliterated the ladies’s marathon world file in Chicago, taking nearly two minutes off the earlier file to win in two hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds.
Chepngetich left the competitors halfway by and let loose a refrain of cheers down the stretch as he claimed his third title in Chicago on Sunday.
The 30-year-old, who grew to become the primary three-time feminine winner of the Chicago race, broke the earlier world file of two:11:53 set by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa final yr in Berlin.
Ethiopian Sutume Kebede crossed the end line seven minutes and 36 seconds later, whereas Kenyan Irine Cheptai (2:17:51) was third.
“That is my dream come true,” Chepngetich mentioned.
Chepngetich, who additionally gained in Chicago in 2021 and 2022, devoted his newest victory to Kelvin Kiptum, who set the boys’s world file in final yr’s race simply 4 months earlier than dying in a automotive accident on the age of 24.
“The world file has returned to Kenya and I dedicate it to Kelvin Kiptum,” Chepngetich mentioned.
“I’ve fought lots, desirous about the world file and I’ve achieved it.”
Runners bear in mind Kiptum
The runners noticed a second of silence on the beginning line in honor of Kiptum. Organizers additionally handed out stickers displaying Kiptum’s file time of two:00:35 for the 50,000 members to placed on their bibs.
Within the absence of Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, winner of Chicago in 2023, Chepngetich set a blistering tempo from the beginning and reached the midway mark in 1:04:16, the fifth-fastest time in historical past for a half marathon for a girls.
“The climate was good and I used to be effectively ready. I had the world file in thoughts,” Chepngetich, who was runner-up to Hassan 12 months in the past, advised reporters after the race.
Chepngetich ran the primary 5 km (3.1 mi) in quarter-hour and, by the midway level, had constructed a 14-second cushion between herself and Kebede.
Tv commentators had been amazed as he progressed alongside the course, evaluating his try at a sub-2:10 marathon to the moon touchdown, and he solely appeared to realize momentum as he ran the ultimate 2 miles (3.2 km).
Chepngetich, the 2019 world champion, hunched over in full exhaustion after breaking the tape, however then mentioned, “Chicago is like house.”
His compatriot John Korir gained the boys’s class with a time of two:02:44.
Korir, 27, completed forward of Ethiopian Mohamed Esa (2:04:39) and one other Kenyan, Amos Kipruto (2:04:50).
Korir was a part of a seven-man group on the entrance of the race for 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) earlier than stepping on the accelerator and disposing of his rivals after a comparatively conservative begin.
4 of the highest 5 had been Kenyans, with Vincent Ngetich and Daniel Ebenyo ending the rostrum.
“It was very nice to run my PB and win in Chicago,” Korir mentioned, including that he additionally used the reminiscence of Kiptum as a supply of motivation.
“At present I used to be desirous about Kiptum and I mentioned, ‘Final yr, if he might run below 2:01, why could not I?’ So I needed to consider in myself and attempt to do my finest.”
Korir’s time was the second-fastest race ever run in Chicago.