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Brigid Kosgei Rocks Chicago with World Record on Magic Day

By mitchpa on October 14, 2019 • ( 1 )

by Clay Shaw
Photography by Karen Mitchell

CHICAGO, IL, OCTOBER 13, 2019—Brigid Koskei of Kenya, who has been unbeatable throughout 2019, came into Chicago confident and ready. On September 8, Kosgei had set a new women’s world record of 1:04:28 at the Great North Run Half Marathon in Great Britain.

On marathon day Kosgei went out fast, with only male pacers Geoffrey Pyego and Daniel Limo with her. Afterwards she gave credit to them for protecting her from the winds. She said the headwinds could have “pushed her down” without the benefit of the two pacemakers. By the time she finished, Kosgei had shattered the 17-year old world record by winning in 2:14:04. (Paula Radcliffe’s 2003 WR of 2:15:25 was set in London.) Kosgei’s splits were nearly identical; she ran a perfect race. Joining Kosgei on the podium were Ethiopian runners, Ababel Yeshaneh (2:20:51), and Gelete Burka (2:20:55).

It was also a great day for USA women. Emma Bates of Idaho led the way with a new personal best of 2:25:27 and fourth place overall. Bates left the Ben Bruce pace group and found male runners, who she didn’t know (but would like to thank), to run with as she moved forward running strong throughout the race. Fionnuala McCormack of Ireland took fifth in 2:26:47. The cross country great has wanted to break the 2:30 mark for quite some time, and did it in a big way. Stephanie Bruce of Flagstaff, AZ was sixth and the second USA runner with a PR of 2:27:47. Lindsay Flanagan who grew up in Roselle, IL in the Chicago area took seventh overall and third USA with a 2:28:08. Flanagan now lives and trains in Boulder, Colorado. Laura Thweatt of Superior, CO made a great comeback run with a 2:29:06 and eighth overall after a few frustrating years with injuries. Lisa Weightman of Australia was ninth in 2:29:45 and was top master. Taylor Ward of Ogden, Utah was tenth and fifth American in a new personal best of 2:30:14. On a day with good temperatures for running fast, several elites had personal bests. 58 women broke 2:45, 83 women broke 2:50, and 204 women broke the three-hour mark.

The men’s field featured former Chicago champions Mo Farah 2018, Galen Rupp 2017, and Dickson Chumba 2015. In the end it was a four-man sprint finish with 2019 Boston champion Lawrence Cherono winning in 2:05:45. Dejene Debela of Ethiopia, was just one second back, taking second place in a PR of 2:05:46. Asefa Mengstu of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia took third in 2:05:48. Bedam Karoki of Kenya finished fourth in a PR of 2:05:53. Bashir Abdi of Belgium was fifth in 2:06:14 and lowered his PR and his national record.

Jacob Riley of Boulder, Colorado led the American men with a huge PR of 2:10:36, placing ninth overall. Riley stated that his time was well beyond his expectations of 2:11 to 2:13. After three years of Achilles issues which included surgery, Riley said he “felt good and closed it in.” He credits the other Americans that ran in a pack of 15 for many miles, sharing the lead and working together. Jerrell Mock of Fort Collins was second USA with a 2:10:37 in his first marathon. Parker Stinson of Boulder was third USA in a PR of 2:10:53. Andrew Bumbalough of Concord, MA was fourth USA with a PR of 2:10:56. Matthew McDonald of Atlanta was fifth overall with a PR of 2:11:10. Americans Scott Smith, Brendan Gregg, Noah Droddy, Wilkerson Given, and Diego Estrada were all in the 2:11’s on the magic day in Chicago. 47 men broke 2:20 and 131 men broke 2:30 in one of the most competitive races in the world.

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