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Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich sets world record at Chicago Marathon

Chicago Tribune photo by Tess Crowley via AP / Ruth Chepngetich runs with Kenya's national flag Sunday after crossing the finish line of the Chicago Marathon in Grant Park.
Chicago Tribune photo by Tess Crowley via AP / Ruth Chepngetich runs with Kenya's national flag Sunday after crossing the finish line of the Chicago Marathon in Grant Park. Chicago Tribune photo by Tess Crowley via AP / Ruth Chepngetich runs with Kenya's national flag Sunday after crossing the finish line of the Chicago Marathon in Grant Park.

By The Associated Press 2 min read

CHICAGO — Ruth Chepngetich smashed the women’s marathon world record by nearly two minutes Sunday, winning the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 9 minutes, 56 seconds.

The 30-year-old from Kenya broke a record set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa when she covered 26.2 miles in 2:11:53 at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.

“I feel so great. I’m very proud of myself,” Chepngetich said. “This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record.”

Ethiopia’s Sutume Asefa Kebede was the second-place finisher among women in Sunday’s race at 2:17:32.

Chepngetich became the first woman to break 2:10 in the marathon. She also won the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and 2022 and finished runner-up last year.