Ruth Chepngetich Sets Women's Marathon World Record

Ruth Chepngetich has made history by becoming the first woman to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes, finishing the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a remarkable 2:09:56, which breaks the previous record by nearly two minutes. This performance not only eclipses the prior record held by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa (2:11:53) but also marks a significant milestone in women's distance running, as it is the first sub-2:10 marathon and the first to average under 5:00 per mile. Chepngetich dedicated her victory to her late compatriot Kelvin Kiptum, who set the men's world record in Chicago last year before his tragic death in a car accident. Her impressive pacing throughout the race saw her build substantial leads at various checkpoints, culminating in a final sprint that astonished commentators. Additionally, John Korir won the men's race in a personal best of 2:02:44, as both races began with a moment of silence for Kiptum. Chepngetich's achievement is celebrated as a testament to advancements in training and technology in athletics.