Former world champion Ruth Chepngetich produced a striking performance on Sunday, October 9, 2022 to successfully defend her Bank of America Chicago Marathon title.
Chepngetich took command of the race from the start and never looked back, reaching the tape in an impressive time of 2:14:18, missing the world record by just 14 seconds.
The 28-year-old announced her intentions at the earlier stages of the race when she broke away from the starting pack to cross the 5km mark in an incredible pace of 15:11, more than 45 seconds faster than the chasing park.
She continued with the blistering pace to cruise past the 10km in 30:40, opening a 2 minute lead ahead of her rivals.
The Ngong-based athlete passed the halfway mark in 01:65.44 - a world record breaking pace.
Her compatriot Brigid Kosgei broke Paula Radcliffe's 16-year-old world record at the same venue when she crossed the finishing line in 2:14.04 back in 2019.
In her maiden appearance at the 2021 edition, Chepngetich destroyed the field to clinch the title in 2:22.31.
She won the race ahead of the United States duo of Emma Bates and Sara Hall who clocked 2:24.20 and 2:27.19 respectively.
Earlier this year, Chepngetich outclassed the likes of Kenyan-born Israel international Lornah Salpeter and Yuka Ando from Japan to bag the Nagoya Women’s Marathon title, in the process pocketing over Ksh 25,000,000.
American athlete Emily Sisson clocked 2:18.29 to finish second, in the process breaking the national record of 2:19.12 set by Keira D'Amato a few months ago.
Kenya's Vivian Kiplagat clocked 2:20.52 to finish third ahead of Ethiopia's Ruti Aga who crossed past the finishing line in 2:21.41.
In the men's category, Benson Kipruto broke away in the final stages to win the race in 2:04.24.
The 31-year-old was in the leading pack from the start of the race, running shoulder to shoulder with a number of athletes that included his compatriots John Korir and Benard Koech as well as Seifu Tura from Ethiopia.
Korir, the younger brother to former Cherangany Mp Wesley Korir clocked 2:05.01 to settle for a third-place finish behind Tura who crossed the finishing line in 2:04.49.
First lady, Rachel Ruto took to Twitter to congratulate the duo for putting the Kenyan flag on the global map
"On the eve of the Huduma Day celebrations, a holiday dedicated to encouraging service to others, two Kenyans have once again hoisted our flag an inch higher, on the global mast of marathoners at the 2022 Chicago Marathon.
"Congratulations Benson Kipruto and Ruth Chepng'etich for winning gold in the men's and women's marathon respectively. Yours is service to the country and an early gift for tomorrow's Huduma Day," read her statement.
