Ruth Chepngetich sets world record by finishing 2024 Chicago Marathon – NBC Chicago

Ruth Chepngetich did something no other marathon runner has ever done before, setting an unofficial world record when she finished the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Her historic finish marks the first marathon time by a woman under 2 hours and 10 minutes – the previous world record was 2 hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds, set by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. Chepngetich finished the race with an unofficial time of 2 hours, 9 minutes and 56 seconds.

“I feel so great. “I’m proud of myself and thank God for the win and the world record,” she told NBC Chicago shortly after her stunning finish at the finish line. “This is my dream come true. I fight a lot and think about the world record and I have fulfilled it and I am very grateful.”

Chepngetich, 2021 and 2022 Bank of American Chicago Marathon Winner and runner-up in 2023, returned to the track in 2024 to try to regain her title. And she did more.

Ruth Chepngetich makes history with a likely world record in the women's marathon, securing the Chicago Marathon title.

“This woman is on her way to doing something I never thought I would see in my life,” marathon runner and NBC commentator Carrie Tollefson said during the live broadcast as Chepngetich approached the finish line .

“It’s almost like watching someone land on the moon,” Tollefson added.

Experts compared the finish to the men's world record set in 2023, where the late Kelvin Kiptum became the first man to run a marathon in under 2 hours and 1 minute.

Chepngetich said she dedicated her race to Kiptum.

This isn't the first time Chepngetich has made history at the Chicago Marathon.

Chepngetich not only won the 2022 Chicago Marathon, but also ran the fourth fastest women's marathon time in history in that race, 2:14:18.

Since her marathon debut in 2017, she has won Chicago (twice), Nagoya (twice), Istanbul (twice), Dubai and the 2019 World Championships.

She won the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and 2022, while she came second in 2023. She recently finished ninth in the 2024 London Marathon with a time of 2:24:36. In her last race, she won the Buenos Aires Half Marathon in 1:05:58.