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Ruth Chepng'etich Sets New Women's World Record at Chicago Marathon
Written by Atlas Long.
On Oct. 13, exactly one year and five days after Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum set the men's marathon world record in eligible races of 2:00:35, the 2024 Chicago Marathon showcased an extraordinary performance in the women's race.
Ruth Chepng'etich, the eventual winner, aimed to break the world record and set a blistering pace in the first half, recording the fastest half marathon ever run by a woman on American soil.
Despite expectations that her rapid start might hinder her in the latter half of the race, Chepng'etich maintained a slight positive split of just one minute and 24 seconds.
She crossed the finish line in 2:09:56, becoming the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier in marathon history. This time is a remarkable improvement of one minute and 57 seconds over the previous record set by Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa at the Berlin Marathon last year.
Chepng'etich's average pace over the 26 2 miles was 4:57 4 per mile, a feat some experts compare to breaking the two-hour barrier in the men's marathon. However, the legitimacy of her achievement has come under scrutiny amid doping concerns, particularly given that 300 Kenyan athletes are currently serving bans for performance-enhancing drug use. It's important to note, though, that Chepng'etich has maintained a clean record throughout her eight-year professional career, with no positive tests for banned substances.
Chepng'etich dedicated her achievement to Kiptum, the late men’s marathon world record holder who passed away in February at the age of 23. The milestone should be celebrated as a significant moment for women's athletics and the sport as a whole.
