Ruth Chepngetich sets world record time at Chicago Marathon; John Korir takes men's title
Swiss wheelchair racers Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner repeated their golden Paris 2024 results in the Windy City, while Ruth Chepngetich dedicated her world record to late runner and fellow world-record breaker Kelvin Kiptum.
Athletics
It was a big day for Kenya at the 2024 Chicago Marathon as John Korir and Ruth Chepngetich took the top spots in the men's and women's elite races on Sunday (13 October), respectively.
Chepngetich set the world record in 2:09:56, smashing the previous record of 2:11:53 held by Ethiopian Tigst Assefa.
"I feel so great. I am very proud of myself and I've done well for the victory and the world record. This is my dream that has come true," Chepngetich said afterward. "I fight a lot thinking about the world record. I am very grateful."
It was a second world record for Kenya in as many years at the Chicago Marathon after Kelvin Kiptum set the men's record in 2023. Kiptum died tragically in a road accident earlier this year at the age of 24.
Before the race, Chepngetich had said she would dedicate her race to Kiptum's memory.
"This world record I'm dedicating to Kelvin Kiptum because maybe he could have defended his title and again [achieved] a world record," she said on Sunday, fighting back tears. "This world record has come back to Kenya. I'm so happy, I don't know how to explain."
The Kenyan runner showed early on that she meant business as she ran a 1:04:16 half marathon split, the fastest half marathon ever on US soil. That time was just seconds off her own personal best in the half marathon.
Chepngetich said her key in the Windy City was her preparation - and a little luck.
"This year, the weather was perfect," she said. "I was much more prepared, I prepared since London. The world record was in my mind."
Korir on personal best: We were going for the win, not the time.
Chepngetich's compatriot Korir clocked a 2:02:43 in the men's race, nearly two minutes ahead of Ethiopia's Huseydin Mohamed Esa (2:04:39). It was the second-fastest time ever run at the Chicago Marathon and also the fastest marathon finish of 2024.
Kenya's Amos Kipruto finished third at 2:04:50.
"It was very good, fast," said Korir. "Today was really nice to run 2:02, my PB, here in Chicago. Coming here, we were going for the win, not the time."
Korir's younger brother, Wesley, has run the Chicago marathon seven times, including a second-place finish in 2011. He provided John Korir with inspiration ahead of hitting the streets.
"He told me, 'Be patient, believe in yourself, you have done your training,'" John Korir recounted at the finish line.
Hug, Debrunner back up Paris 2024 titles in Chicago
In the men's wheelchair race, it was a flashback to the Paris 2024 Paralympics with Marcel Hug of Switzerland holding off USA's Daniel Romanchuk, who finished fourth in Paris, in a dramatic final chase.
"It feels incredible, I'm very happy, very satisified. It was a beautiful day for the marathon today, great conditions, great atmosphere," said Hug, who finished in 1:25:54, four second clear of Romanchuk. "For me, it was really tough. It was a really technical race. I attacked countless times and then, we had a finish sprint and luckily, I won.
"It was a big challenge today with Daniel, he was very strong. I had to work very hard, attack so many times. It didn't work. He was always following."
Paralympic bronze medallist Suzuki Tomoki of Japan finished third.
Five-time Paris 2024 gold medallist Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland also capped her spectacular season with a win on Sunday, finishing nearly three minutes ahead of compatriot Manuela SchÀr, 1:36:12 to 1:39:03.
"It was a really tough race, there was a lot of wind and of course, it's always tough when you do it all by yourself," said Debrunner, who distanced herself from the field early. "I struggled quite often, so I was really happy when I was in the finish."
This year has been like a fairytale, to be honest, with the Paralympics, which was the big goal of this year. It was all about the Paralympics, we planned everything for it," she continued. "We knew it was going to be a super long season, so we are all tired, but I am really grateful to be here."