Women’s world marathon
record holder Ruth Chepng’etich
wants to silence critics by
lowering her 2:09:56.
Chepng’etich stunned the world at the Chicago Marathon on October 13, where she clocked the first-ever sub-2:10 to lead Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede ( 2:17:32 ) and Irene Cheptai ( 2:17:51 ) to the podium.
This phenomenal achievement eclipsed the previous mark of 2:11:53, set by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa at the Berlin Marathon on September 24 last year.
Chepng’etich smashed both the 2:11 and 2:10 barriers to become the first woman in history to do so
However, as her record made waves, some critics questioned its legitimacy, with doping suspicions casting a shadow over her triumph.
But Chepng’etich is determined to silence the doubters with faster in future races.
“Anything is possible when you are confident. I can try to lower it in future; it is very possible,” Chepng’etich said after receiving the October Sports Journalists/LG Sportsperson of the Month Award.
Her Chicago win was historic at multiple levels. She broke the world record and became the first woman to win the race three times, following victories in 2021 and 2022.
“When you do something good, people must talk.Let them continue talking because they are not the Anti-Doping Agency,” she said.
Chepng’etich said training in the rugged hills of Ngong’ in preparation for Chicago was gruelling.
“The long runs and speed work were painful but there’s no shortcut to success,” she said.
“After all that preparation, I was confident of a good outcome. I aimed to break the world record after narrowly missing it in 2022 when I clocked 2:14 in Chicago and I am glad I achieved my target.”
At the 2022 Chicago Marathon, she clocked 2:14:18, recording the second fastest time in history and just seconds shy of the then women’s record of 2:14:04 held by Brigid Kosgei from her triumph in 2019 in the same city.
“I was so disappointed after the London Marathon, where I was not able to post good results. I knew I had to bounce back and end the season on a high note,” Chepng’etich said.
