Ruth Chepngetich breaks the world record at the 2024 Chicago Marathon

Another year, another world record broken at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. A year after Kelvin Kiptum broke the men’s world record with a time of 2:00:35, Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich won the marathon with an official time of 2:09:56. She is the first woman in history to run under 2:10 and also beat the second fastest runner by eight minutes.

The Chicago Marathon has become a race where records are broken seemingly every year. Four of the five fastest women’s times have come on the flat Chicago course in the last six years.

She wasn’t the only Kenyan to win the 2024 Chicago Marathon.

More than a year after his friend Kiptum, who died in a car accident earlier this year, blew kisses as he set a marathon world record by winning the 2023 Chicago Marathon, John Korir won the 2024 race in his friend’s honor.

Korir won the race with an official time of 2:02:44.

As Korir crossed the finish line, he spread his arms in celebration and ran through the finish line tape. Korir then pointed his finger at the sky as he celebrated his successes.

Towards the end of the race he had a clear lead over his competition. As he approached the second hour, he had created such a gap between himself and the other runners that victory was close as he approached the 26.2 mile mark.

Korir made his Chicago Marathon debut in 2022 and placed fourth at the 2024 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:07:40. This year’s victory had been years in the making.

In 2022 and 2023, Korir finished third and fourth respectively, despite setting some of the fastest times.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon returns to the city on Sunday for the 46th running of the race.

From the first Chicago Marathon to Sunday’s race, Mueller and Burt are the only two runners to have competed in and completed all 45 marathons. Despite their age, both have a goal of completing 50 Chicago Marathons in a row.

From Kyle Williams

The marathon returns to downtown Chicago on Sunday. So you can watch from home.

From Sun-Times Staff Writer