Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich poses for a photo after after winning the Chicago Marathon in a new world record time of 2:09:56 on October 13, 2024.
In Addis Ababa
Ruth Chepngetich has revealed that she started thinking about attempting to break the women’s world record in 2018.
Speaking in Addis Ababa on Friday ahead of Sunday's Great Ethiopian Run 10km, Chepngetich confessed that she really only began harbouring thoughts of owning the women’s record after her unsuccessful attempt at the women’s-only world record then of 2:17:01 held by compatriot Mary Keitany.
Chepngetich ran a blistering 2:18:35 to win the 2018 Istanbul Marathon, some 1 minute 34 seconds shy of the standing record.
The women’s mixed world record then stood at 2:15:25 set by Briton great Paula Radcliffe on April 17, 2005.
“When I ran the Istanbul Marathon I was targeting the women’s only record, feeling it was possible. After the race I started thinking about the world record,” Chepngetich said.
Within this six-year period Kenyan Brigid Kosgei set a new record of 2:14:04 on October 13, 2019, before Ethiopian Tigst Assefa lowered it to 2:11:53 on September 24 last year.
Chepgnetich then obliterated that record on October 13 when she won the Chicago Marathon in 2:09:56, becoming the first woman in history to run a marathon under 2 hours 10 minutes.
“I had been working on it for a long period and I’m so glad that I managed to lower it this year,” she said during the pre-event conference.
Ruth Chepngetich celebrates after winning the Chicago Marathon in a new world record time of 2:09:56 on October 13, 2024.
“The world record was in my mind but I didn’t know I would run 2:09:56. I was just confident that I would do something special,” said the 30-year-old.
Earlier in Nairobi she revealed she would attack the world record again next year.
Ethiopian long distance running great Haile Gebrselassie congratulated Chepngetich for setting the world record stating the Kenyan had run faster than his last career marathon time.
Gebrselassie retired in 2012 after competing in the Fukuoka Marathon, a race he registered a DNF.
“You broke Tigst time and she’s not here because she must be working hard somewhere to reclaim her title,” said Gebrselassie good naturedly.
The Great Ethiopian Run 10km race is celebrating its 24th year and is the brain child of Gebrselassie. He won the inaugural race in 2001.
The race has attracted more than 50,000 participants.
Kenya’s three-time Eldoret City Marathon champion Victor Kipchirchir and up coming Mirrian Jelagat have entered the elite women’s race.
Race director Dagmawit Amare said they want to improve relationships with Kenya and Uganda.
“Dagi” as she’s commonly called said that the sport has always brought communities together and working with the Eldoret City Marathon in Kenya had shown her the need to support more athletes realise their potential.
“Personally I have been to Kenya for the Eldoret City Marathon in April and I was happy to see athletes embracing the local race. The whole idea is to make sure we promote sports tourism as one way of bringing communities together. We also want to bring Uganda on board,” said Amare.
Ethiopian Airlines also celebrated their special passenger Chepngetich with a cake cutting ceremony aboard her Nairobi-Addis Ababa flight.
