Ruth Chepngetich breaks the women's marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon

Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich ran the fastest women's marathon ever, winning the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

Chepngetich, 30, ran 2 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds, breaking the world record of 2:11:53 set by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.

“This is my dream come true,” Chepngetich said on NBC Chicago. “I fight a lot and think about the world record. I am fulfilled.”

Chepngetich won the Chicago Marathon for the third time, edging runner-up Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia by 7:26. Chepngetich entered the race as the fourth fastest woman of all time with a personal best of 2:14:18.

CHICAGO MARATHON: Results

Four of the five fastest women's marathons in history have taken place on Chicago's flat course in the last six years. Before the 2019 Chicago Marathon, the women's marathon world record was 2:15:25.

John Korir, 27, won the men's race on Sunday in 2:02:43 to claim his first career World Marathon Major title. He is now the sixth fastest male marathon runner in history.

Korir, the younger brother of 2012 Boston Marathon winner Wesley Korir, finished third in Chicago in 2022, fourth in Chicago in 2023 and fourth in Boston last April. He also won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2021 and 2022.

At the 2023 Chicago Marathon, Kelvin Kiptum broke the men's world record with a win in 2:00:35. Kiptum died on February 11 at the age of 24 in a car accident in his native Kenya.

The next big marathon is the New York City Marathon on November 3rd.