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Chepngetich Sets a Stunning World Record of 2:09:56 in Chicago

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By Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

Chicago, IL, October 13, 2024—Ruth Chepngetich set a new women’s world record of 2:09:56 in winning the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for the third time.  At the Friday press conference, Chepngetich said that she “wanted to run a beautiful race.” She did that and more, becoming the first woman to break 2:10.  The world record, set by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa in Berlin 2023, was 2:11:53.  Chepngetich shattered that mark by nearly two minutes.  Kenyan male pacemakers Barnabas Kiptum and Evans Nyakamba Mayaka ran just in front of her for much of the race.  Chepngetich was determined, and attacked the flat Chicago course with a vengeance.  She was left off the Kenyan 2024 Olympic team, and placed second last year in Chicago (to Sifan Hassan).  Last year in Chicago, the late Kelvin Kiptum shocked the world with a 2:00:35 world record.  Now, both records belong to Chicago. 

John Korir of Kenya, won the marathon in 2:02:44, a new personal best.  His previous best of 2:05:01 was set at Chicago 2022.  Korir credited his coach and his training, and said shoes are so much better now. Korir distanced himself from the lead pack near mile 20 and won comfortably.

Susanna Sullivan, a sixth-grade teacher from Reston, VA, was the top American, finishing with a personal best of 2:21:56.  She has recently returned from a broken kneecap. (Amazingly, she finished the 2023 Budapest World Championship Marathon with this injury.)  She then missed out on the February 2024 USA Olympic Marathon Trials.  On September 21, she had recovered and won the Philadelphia Distance Run in 1:09:42, which boded well for a great performance in Chicago.

CJ Albertson of Fresno, CA was the top American man with a PB of 2:08:17, seventh overall.  Albertson, who prefers hills to flat courses, will be racing the New York City Marathon and hopes to be the first American to complete the Boston-Chicago-New York trifecta.  Albertson passed Zach Panning with less than two miles to go in the unofficial USA competition.  Panning was tenth in 2:09:16. (Only the top ten men finished ahead of Ruth Chepngetich.)

Switzerland wheelchair athletes won both the men’s and women’s titles.  Marcel Hug won his fifth Chicago, and third in a row, in 1:25:54.  His win was not easy as Daniel Romanchuk of the USA was close behind in 1:25:58.  Tomoki Suzuki of Japan was third in 1:26:05.  Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland won fairly easily in 1:36:12. Manuela Schar, also of Switzerland, was second in 1:39:03.  Tatyana McFadden of USA was third in 1:41:59. Sadly Susannah Scaroni got a flat tire and could not contend; she did finish twelfth.

Sutume Kebede, an Ethiopian woman, ran a solid 2:17:32 for second place and Irene Cheptai of Kenya ran a personal best of 2:17:51 for third place.  It is stunning that these two great times are overshadowed by nearly eight minutes to the Chepngetich victory time.  Lindsay Flanagan of USA was ninth and second American with a PB of 2:23:31. Emma Bates was third USA in 2:24:00.  Gabi Rooker in 2:24:29 and Lauren Hagens in 2:25:47 were the fourth and fifth Americans with personal bests.

Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia finished second male in 2:04:39. Amos Kipruto of Kenya was third in 2:04:50.  Vincent Ngetich of Kenya was fourth in 2:05:16.  Daniel Ebenyo of Kenya, the 2023 World XC Bathurst champion, ran 2:06:04 for fifth in his debut marathon. Reed Fischer of Colorado was third American in 2:10:14, Brian Schrader was fourth American in 2:10:25 and Shadrack Kipchirchir was fifth USA with a personal best of 2:11:05. 

This year, the Chicago Marathon grew to an amazing 52,152 finishers. Among the finishers were regional athletes that we know:

  • C Fred Joslyn, Boiling Springs, PA  2:44:40
  • Rebecca Doner, York PA 3:29:19
  • Eric Ferree, Dallastown, PA 2:59:04
  • Sarah Wenger, Dallastown PA 3:15:47
  • Mike Ball, York, PA 5:08:44
  • Billie Melanson, York, PA 4:18:26
  • Kelly Rose, Dover, PA 3:18:37
  • Georganne Watson, Phoenixville PA 2:52:31
  • Cassie Kerlinger, Camp Hill, PA 5:16:35
  • Zachary Bowerman, Camp Hill, PA 5:16:35
  • Gwyn Miller, York, PA 3:52:09
  • Pete Mulligan, Baltimore, MD 4:40:00
  • Megan DiGregorio, Baltimore, MD 3:03:54
  • Madison Miller, Lebanon, NH (formerly York, PA) 3:12:33
  • Danny O’Neal, Harrisburg, PA 3:45:25

Results

Top Women

  1. 2:09:56 Ruth Chepngetich, Kenya
  2. 2:17:32 Sulume Kebede, Ethiopia
  3. 2:17:51 Irene Cheptai, Kenya
  4. 2:20:22 Buze Diriba, Ethiopia
  5. 2:20:51 Joyciline Jepkosgei, Kenya
  6. 2:20:52 Degitu Azimeraw, Ethiopia
  7. 2:21:56 Susanna Sullivan, USA
  8. 2:23:10 Ashete Bekere, Ethiopia
  9. 2:23:31 Lindsay Flanagan, USA
  10. 2:23:42 Stacy Ndiwa, Kenya
  11. 2:24:00 Emma Bates, USA
  12. 2:24:29 Gabi Rooker, USA
  13. 2:25:47 Lauren Hagans, USA
  14. 2:27:52 Annie Frisbie, USA
  15. 2:28:16 Dominique Scott, South Africa
  16. 2:28:41 Amy Davis-Green, USA
  17. 2:29:25 Anne-Marie Blaney, USA
  18. 2:30:12 Sara Hall, USA
  19. 2:31:51 Betsy Saina, USA
  20. 2:35:47 Aubrey Frentheway, USA

Top Men

  1. 2:02:44 John Korir, Kenya
  2. 2:04:39 Mohamed Esa, Ethiopia
  3. 2:04:50 Amos Kipruto, Kenya
  4. 2:05:16 Vincent Ngetich, Kenya
  5. 2:06:04 Daniel Ebenyo, Kenya
  6. 2:07:20 Kyohei Hosoya, Japan
  7. 2:08:17 CJ Albertson, USA
  8. 2:08:22 Toshiki Sadakata, Japan
  9. 2:08:51 Alex Masai, Kenya
  10. 2:09:16 Zach Panning, USA
  11. 2:10:11 Yuichi Yasui, Japan
  12. 2:10:14 Reed Fischer, USA
  13. 2:10:25 Brian Shrader, USA
  14. 2:10:53 Dawit Wolde, Ethiopia
  15. 2:11:05 Shadrack Kipchirchir, USA
  16. 2:11:07 Tatsuya Maruyama, Japan
  17. 2:11:24 Alex Maier, USA
  18. 2:11:55 Turner Wiley, USA
  19. 2:12:23 Charlie Sweeney, USA
  20. 2:12:34 JP Flavin, USA
Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya smiles proudly with her world record time of 2:09:56. Photo courtesy of © Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris
Early elite wheelchair action with Daniel Romanchuk #207 and Marcel Hug #201. They would race to the finish with Hug winning by four seconds, 1:25:54 to 1:25:58.
Susannah Scaroni of Illinois, one of the main contenders, got a flat tire early and finished 12th.
Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia runs behind pacers Emad Bashir Mohammed #Pace 8 and Andi Asefa Kebede #Pace 7. Kebede would finish second in 2:17:32.
Sussnna Sullivan of Reston, VA, running north on LaSalle, led the USA women with a PB of 2:21:56. Zachary Hoover of Crown Point, IN strides along with Sullivan early in the race.
Keira D’Amato had to drop out early with an injury; she runs behind pacers Matt Centrowitz #Pace 12, Reid Buchanan #Pace 13, and Dustin Bybee.
Fred Joslyn of Boiling Springs, is one of two area runners I was able to see and photograph in the 52,152 finisher field. Fred ran 2:44:40.
Natalia Talavara of Mexico City strides with male runners in Downtown Chicago.
Catherine Debrunner of Switzerland well on her way to the 2024 Chicago Marathon win in 1:36:12. Here she is on Cermak in Chinatown.
John Korir of Kenya with winning form on his way to a PB of 2:02:44 and the 2024 Chicago Marathon victory.
Vincent Ngetich and Amos Kipruto of Kenya, along with Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia chase Korir near mile 22. Esa would finish second in 2:04:39. Kipruto was third in 2:04:50 and Ngetich was fourth in 2:05:16.
Daniel Ebenyo of Kenya was fifth in 2:06:04 in his debut at the marathon distance.
Kyohei Hosoya of Japan was sixth in 2:07:20.
CJ Albertson of Fresno, CA was top American in a personal best of 2:08:17. He was seventh overall.
Shadrack Kipchirchir of Colorado Springs was fifteenth with a PB of 2:11:05.
Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya shattered the world record with a 2:09:56. Pacers Barnabas Kiptum #Pace 5 and Evans Nyakamba Mayaka #Pace 6 did a most excellent job.
Charlie Sweeney of Boulder, CO was 19th with a PB of 2:12:23.
Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia was second in 2:17:32.
Irene Cheptai of Kenya was third with a PB of 2:17:51.
Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya was fifth in 2:20:51.
Degitu Azimeraw of Ethiopia was sixth in 2:20:52. #Pacer 10 Adam Lipschitz gets some hydration.
Susanna Sullivan of Reston, VA was seventh overall and top American with a PB of 2:21:56.
Stacy Ndiwa of Kenya was tenth with a PB of 2:23:42.
Emma Bates of Boulder, CO was eleventh and third American in 2:24:00.
Lindsay Flanagan of Boulder, CO and an Illinois native was second American and ninth overall in a personal best of 2:23:31.
Gabi Rooker of Minneapolis, MN was twelfth overall and fourth USA with a new PB of 2:24:29.
Lauren Hagans of Flagstaff, AZ was thirteenth overall and fifth American with a PB of 2:25:47.
Amy Davis-Green of Lake Orion, MI earned a PB of 2:28:41 and was 16th overall.
Anne-Marie Blaney of Rochester Hills, MI was 17th with a personal best of 2:29:25.
Dmytro Molchanov of Ukraine ran 2:32:43.
Gulshanoi Satarova of Kyrgyzstan was 26th in 2:39:07.
Kate Landau of Tacoma, WA won the 45-49 group in 2:39:59.
Georganne Watson of Phoenixville, PA ran 2:52:31 and was the second of two area runners I was able of photograph in this huge event.
Chinatown Chicago mile 21 to mile 22; lots of drumming, energy and crowds.
Ying Guo of Guangzhou, China ran 3:06:50; she is pictured here running through Chicago’s Chinatown.
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