On October 13, 2024, 30-year-old Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich set a new women's marathon world record at the 46th Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Her astounding time of 2:09:56 shaved 1:57 off the previous world record, set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa in Berlin 2023 (2:11:53). This marks the seventh world record achieved in Chicago since Steve Jones' 2:08:05 back in 1984.
In today’s world of athletic breakthroughs, records seem to fall at an unprecedented rate, thanks to advancements in technology, nutrition, and training techniques—particularly in endurance events, where these innovations create a larger impact.
Yet, Ruth Chepngetich’s accomplishment is truly historic, being the first woman to break the 2:10 barrier and average under 5 minutes per mile.
Tigist Assefa’s previous record of 2:11:53 left us in awe just a year ago, as it obliterated Brigid Kosgei's 2:14:04 from Chicago 2019, which in turn had surpassed Paula Radcliffe’s long-standing 2:15:25 from London 2003.
Success in racing often depends on preparation.
In a post-race interview, Ruth Chepngetich revealed that she arrived in Chicago following a flawless three-month training cycle, recovering from a disappointing ninth-place finish in London earlier this year (2:24:36).
Having previously won the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and 2022, and finishing second in 2023, Chepngetich clearly had the experience and strategy needed to conquer this familiar course.
Of course, in an era where performance-enhancing drug scandals frequently surface, no record is free from scrutiny. However, while skepticism is understandable, it’s important not to default to cynicism.
To stay engaged with the sport, we must celebrate records for what they are in the moment. While some achievements may later prove dubious, many remarkable performances, like Chepngetich’s, should be recognized as pure athletic brilliance.
Looking at her 5K splits, Chepngetich maintained a slightly slowing pace throughout the race, with the exception of a faster 35K to 40K segment (15:39) compared to the previous one (15:43 from 30K to 35K):
A huge congratulations to Ruth Chepngetich and her team for an extraordinary achievement in one of the world’s most beautiful cities.
Now, we wait to see how long this record will stand before history is rewritten again!
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