Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei shattered Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old women’s marathon world record Sunday, winning the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 14 minutes and 4 seconds. Kosgei broke the mark of 2:15:25 set by Radcliffe in the London Marathon on April 13, 2003 as she won in Chicago for the second straight year.
Kosgei, the 25-year-old who won the London Marathon in April and clocked the fastest half-marathon in history this year of 1:04:28, quickly separated herself from the women’s field as she ran with two male pace-setters.
She crossed the finish line alone, with Ethiopians Ababel Yeshaneh and Gelete Burka a distant second and third in 2:20:51 and 2:20:55.
Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono won a men’s race that came down to the wire in 2:05:45 – barely edging Ethiopia’s Dejene Debela who was second in 2:05:46 with Ethiopian Asefa Mengstu third in 2:05:48. Last year’s winner Mo Farah of Britain finished a distant eighth in 2:09:58.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!