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Ruth Chepngetich didn’t just win the 2024 Chicago Marathon.
She set the women’s world record with an incredible time of 2:09:57.
It was quite the Sunday for Kenya runners, as John Korir joined Chepngetich in the winner’s circle with a time of 2:02:43 on the men’s side.
Chepngetich, Korir and a field of tens of thousands of competitors participated in the annual race Sunday that started in Grant Park, weaved through a number of the city’s historic neighborhoods and finished in Grant Park where the runners could celebrate with their friends and family.
Runners went through the Loop and Wrigleyville, ran past the United Center, and finished not far from the Buckingham Fountain.
As Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports noted, the Chicago Marathon is one of the six annual World Marathon Majors. That meant many of the world’s top runners competed in 2024.
On the women’s side, Chepngetich was the headliner as she returned to the Chicago Marathon she won in 2021 and 2022. She certainly delivered under the spotlight and reclaimed her crown in record-setting fashion.
Elsewhere, Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede (this year’s Tokyo Marathon winner) and Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei (2019 New York City Marathon winner and 2021 London Marathon winner) also competed.
Notable Americans included Emma Bates, Keira D’Amato, Betsy Saina and Sara Hall.
As for the men’s side, Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese, Kenya’s Amos Kipruto (2022 London Marathon winner) and American CJ Albertson were among the headliners.
Cate Schiller of Sporting News noted the City of Chicago also honored Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum this year. Kiptum won last year’s race with a world and course record of 2:00:35 but died months after his victory in a car accident.
There was a moment of silence before the race for Kiptum, and Chepngetich said after her victory that she dedicated her performance to Kiptum.
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