Ruth Chepngetich breaks the marathon world record by almost two minutes | Marathon

Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich broke the women's world record by nearly two minutes at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, winning in 2:09:56.

Chepngetich became the first woman to break 2 hours and 10 minutes in the marathon. The 30-year-old broke the previous record of 2:11:53 set by Tigist Assefa from Ethiopia at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.

Chepngetich has an impressive record at the Chicago Marathon: She also won the race in 2021 and 2022 and took second place last year. Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia finished second on Sunday in 2:17:32.

“I feel so great. I am proud of myself and thank God for the victory and the world record,” Chepngetich told NBC Chicago after the race. “This is my dream come true. I fight a lot and think about the world record. I reached out to him and I’m very grateful.”

Chepngetich's compatriot John Korir won the men's race in 2:02:44 ahead of Ethiopia's Huseydin Mohamed Esa, who finished in 2:04:39. Korir and Chepngetich ran in honor of the late Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya, who broke the men's world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

In February, 24-year-old Kiptum and his coach Gervais Hakizimana died in a car accident. Police said Kiptum lost control of his vehicle before crashing into a tree near a training ground in Kaptagat, Kenya.

Organizers observed a minute's silence for Kiptum before the race and gave the nearly 50,000 runners a commemorative sticker to stick on their race numbers.