Current:Home > InvestRuth Chepngetich smashes woman's world record at Chicago Marathon -Prime Capital Blueprint
Ruth Chepngetich smashes woman's world record at Chicago Marathon
View
Date:2025-04-13 22:16:52
(Reuters) - Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich put on a performance for the ages as she obliterated the women's marathon world record in Chicago on Sunday, taking nearly two minutes off the previous best to win in an unofficial time of two hours, nine minutes and 56 seconds.
Chepngetich ditched the competition by the halfway mark and ran through a chorus of cheers through the final straight as she claimed her third title in Chicago and crushed Ethiopian Tigst Assefa's previous record of 2:11:53, set last year in Berlin.
Ethiopia's Sutume Kebede crossed the line seven minutes and 36 seconds later while Kenyan Irine Cheptai (2:17:51) was third.
"This is my dream that has come true," said Chepngetich, whose time was originally recorded as 2:09:57 but was later adjusted.
Her compatriot John Korir won on the men's side in 2:02:44.
Chepngetich set a blistering pace from the start, running the first five kilometres in 15 minutes flat and by the halfway mark she had built a 14-second cushion between herself and Kebede.
Television commentators were astonished as she grinded through the course, comparing her attempt at a sub-2:10 marathon to the moon landing, and she only seemed to gain momentum as she sprinted through the final two miles.
Chepngetich, the 2019 world champion, hunched over in utter exhaustion after breaking the tape and dedicated her performance to compatriot Kelvin Kiptum, who broke the men's world record a year ago in Chicago and died in a car crash four months later.
"World record was in my mind," she said in televised remarks. "Chicago, as I said in the press, is like home."
The day began with a moment of silence at the starting line for Kiptum, who ran last year in 2:00:35, as runners took off under pristine conditions in the Windy City.
Korir stuck with a crowded men's lead pack through the first 30 kilometres before making his move and was nearly 30 seconds clear of the rest of the field by the 35-kilometre mark.
He glided through the final kilometres, holding his arms out wide as he finished his textbook performance in a personal best time for his first major title.
Ethiopia's Mohamed Esa was second in 2:04:39 while Kenyan Amos Kipruto (2:04:50) finished third.
"Today I was thinking about Kiptum," said Korir. "I had to believe in myself and try to do my best."
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (63869)
Related
- Tom Holland's New Venture Revealed
- Couple spent nearly $550 each for Fyre Festival 2 tickets: If anything, it'll just be a really cool vacation
- Gov. Doug Burgum injured playing basketball, but he still hopes to debate
- Feds fine ship company $2 million for dumping oil and garbage into ocean off U.S. coast
- Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
- Couple spent nearly $550 each for Fyre Festival 2 tickets: If anything, it'll just be a really cool vacation
- Titans rookie Tyjae Spears leads this season's all-sleeper fantasy football team
- As Ralph Yarl begins his senior year of high school, the man who shot him faces a court hearing
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- The Fukushima nuclear plant’s wastewater will be discharged to the sea. Here’s what you need to know
Ranking
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- FIBA World Cup starts Friday: How to watch, what to know
- Whistle while you 'woke'? Some people are grumpy about the live-action 'Snow White' movie
- Massachusetts lottery had $25M, two $1M winners in the month of August
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- 16 dead, 36 injured after bus carrying Venezuelan migrants crashes in Mexico
- Ecuador votes to stop oil drilling in the Amazon reserve in historic referendum
- Hunters kill elusive Ninja bear that attacked at least 66 cows in Japan
Recommendation
Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
Timing and cost of new vaccines vary by virus and health insurance status. What to know.
St. Louis proposal would ban ‘military-grade’ weapons, prohibit guns for ‘insurrectionists’
Hawaii's economic toll from wildfires is up to $6 billion, Moody's estimates
Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
'Barbie' rehearsal footage shows Ryan Gosling as Ken cracking up Greta Gerwig: Watch
India joins an elite club as first to land a spacecraft near the moon's south pole
Dangerous heat wave from Texas to the Midwest strains infrastructure, transportation