Last Sunday, Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich set a new women’s world record in the Chicago Marathon, with 2 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds. Nothing more and nothing less than two minutes less than the time achieved last September 24, 2023 by Tigist Assefa in the Berlin Marathon. And that has made the Chicago Marathon the holder of both the men’s world record (set by the late Kiptum last year) and the women’s world record.
The shoes, the Chicago profile, the Kenyan genetics? The truth is that Chepngetich’s record has been much talked about in recent days and will continue to be the topic of conversation among lovers of the marathon distance.
Her race in Chicago, of course, was flawless. She went out fast. Very fast. He was brave and he took risks. It took him 15 minutes to run the first 5 kilometers. She reached the 10 in 3:14 and the half marathon in 1:04:16. A time that is the fifth best half marathon time of all time and the best time of the season. Before reaching the 30 kilometer mark, he seemed capable of going under 2:09. But she did break the 2:10 barrier. And she achieved her goal, winning for the third time in the American city and achieving a personal best that, in the end, is not personal but world best.
