Compassionate and brilliant – Cepngetic is making history in Chicago
There’s a line from the movie Rocky which includes the warrior spirit; “It’s not about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep going.” On a clear morning in Chicago, Ruth Czepngetic embodied this tenacity not only as a fighter, but as a woman who pushed the limits of human endurance. In doing so, she not only broke the Bank of America Chicago Marathon record, but shattered the idea of ​​what was possible for female runners.
October 13, 2014
Chicago, Illinois, USA, photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon/ Kevin Morris
Chepngetic’s record-breaking performance was not only historic, but also awe-inspiring. Running 26.2 miles in a remarkable time of 2:09:56, the 30-year-old Kenyan became the first woman in history to break the 2:10 barrier in a marathon. He obliterated the previous world record of 2:11:53 by nearly two minutes, set just one year earlier by Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa at the Berlin Marathon.
October 13, 2014
Chicago, Illinois, USA Photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon / Kevin Morris
This wasn’t just another win for Chepngetic, who is no stranger to fame on the streets of Chicago. He has won the race twice before, in 2021 and 2022, both performances showing his courage and sheer willpower. But this year was different. This year, he didn’t just win, he made history.
Anatomy of Greatness
What makes Ruth Chepngetich so special? Perhaps it’s his fearless approach to racing or his unwavering determination, but one thing is for sure, his ability to push the limits sets him apart. Chepngetich’s marathon dominance is based on simple but extraordinary qualities: endurance, courage and a heart full of ambition.
October 13, 2014
Chicago, Illinois, USA Photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon / Kevin Morris
From the very beginning of the race, it was clear that Cepngetic had a special goal not only to win, but also to rewrite the record books. After hitting the half-marathon mark in a Bulgarian pace of 64:16, a time that would have been the half-marathon world record just a few years ago, he moved on. His pace was electric, his movements precise and his determination palpable. By the time he crossed the finish line, he had a 14-second lead over Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia, who had set a near-record pace himself.
Running the race in fearless fashion, 64:16 in the first half and 65:40 in the second, was a testament to Czepngetic’s ability to control his energy and stay calm even when his body was screaming for rest. It was the kind of controlled chaos that only the world’s greatest athletes can produce. He never hesitated, never wavered, and in the end he obliterated Asefa’s record with surgical precision.
October 13, 2014
Chicago, Illinois, USA Photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon / Kevin Morris
After the race, Chepngetich was excited. “I feel so great. I’m proud of myself and I thank God for the win and the world record,” he told NBC Chicago. “This is my dream that has come true. I’m fighting a lot thinking about the world record and I did it, and I’m very grateful.”
Kenya’s long-distance running legacy
Kenyan distance runners have long been the standard bearers of marathon excellence. Names like Eliud Kipchoge, Brigid Kosgei and now Chepngetic are synonymous with dominance in the sport. The Kenyan flag flies proudly in the marathon world and Chepngetich’s performance was another shining example of that legacy.
October 13, 2014
Chicago, Illinois, USA Photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon / Kevin Morris
This victory was not just for personal glory. It was about pride and memory. Chepngetic, along with compatriot John Korir, who won the men’s race in 2:02:44, dedicated their victories to the late Kelvin Kiptum. Kiptum himself broke the men’s marathon world record at the 2023 Chicago Marathon, running 2:00:35, a performance that brought the elusive 2-hour marathon tantalizingly close.
In his interview after the race, Chepngetich said: “The world record is back in Kenya. I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum.” It was a poignant moment that connected generations of Kenyan excellence, a reminder that every great performance is built on the shoulders of those who came before.
A new era for women’s running
Ruth Chepngetic’s 2024 Chicago Marathon performance wasn’t just a milestone, it was the dawn of a new era. The women’s marathon world record, once thought out of reach, has now been broken three times in the last five years. Paula Radcliffe’s long-standing record of 2:15:25, unchallenged from 2003 to 2019, now feels like a relic of the past. The advent of carbon-coated super shoes may have played a part, but what we’re witnessing is not just a technological revolution, but the rise of women who are pushing the limits of what was once thought possible for humanity.
When Brigid Kosgey broke Radcliffe’s record in 2:14:04 in Chicago in 2019, it was seen as a seismic shift in women’s distance running. Then, in 2023, Assefa lowered the mark by another 2:11, and now Cepngetic has lowered it by another 1:57. At this pace, the sub-2:10 barrier that once seemed elusive has been obliterated, and there’s no telling where the limits will go.
October 13, 2014
Chicago, Illinois, USA, Photo: Bank of America Chicago Marathon / Kevin Morris
But it’s not just the time on the clock that makes Czepngetic’s achievement truly remarkable. It is the story of a woman who dared to dream, who fought against pain, who embraced her path with the unwavering belief that she could do the impossible. In a world where barriers are constantly being redefined, Chepngetic’s run was a reminder that boundaries must be broken.
Like Rocky in the last round, Czepngetic showed the world that it’s not about how hard you hit, but how hard you can keep moving forward. He didn’t just run a marathon, he ran into the pages of history, and he did it with the heart of a champion.
