Ruth Chepngetich achieved something absolutely spectacular during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2024. The Kenyan athlete ran the marathon in a time of 2:09:56, setting a new world record for women in the marathon. Moreover, she did so while racing against men, which makes her achievement even more extraordinary. She beat the previous world record, which stood at 2:11:53, set by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa during the Berlin Marathon in 2023. Chepngetich improved the record by a massive 1 minute and 56 seconds!
This achievement is particularly remarkable because her average pace throughout the race was 4:57 per mile – a time that once seemed nearly impossible for women. Ruth started the race at a “crazy” pace, completing the first 5 kilometers in 15 minutes, which projected her to finish the marathon in 2:07. By the halfway point, after 21.0975 km, her time was 1:04:16, placing her in fifth place in the history of the fastest half-marathon times. Although her pace was incredibly fast, Ruth managed to sustain it for most of the race, holding off her competitors.
In the second half of the marathon, Chepngetich’s lead over her rivals grew with every mile. By 30 kilometers, she had already built a lead of nearly 2 minutes over second-placed Jemima Sumgong Kebede, and over Hellen Cheptai, her lead was a staggering 5 minutes and 20 seconds. In the final kilometers, Chepngetich had to battle growing fatigue, but her lead was large enough that no one could close the gap. Although her pace slowed slightly in a few spots – she ran the 19th kilometer in 5:07, and the 20th kilometer in 5:02 – she managed to keep up a strong pace to finish the race and claim the world record.
Ruth Chepngetich, who is 30 years old, is already one of the most experienced marathoners in the world. She won the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and 2022, and placed second in 2023. Her previous personal best was 2:14:18, placing her fourth on the all-time fastest female marathoners list. Now, after setting the world record in 2024, she is officially the leader among women, proving that the limits of what is possible in marathon running can still be pushed further.
How to Qualify for the Chicago Marathon?
Participation in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon 2025 can be secured in several ways. One of the most popular options is registering through the lottery, which gives you a chance to gain a spot in the marathon. However, this is not the only way! There is also the possibility to sign up via the charity program, which guarantees a place in the marathon if you raise funds for one of the selected charitable organizations. The number of available spots in this program is limited, and they are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
For runners with experience in Chicago, there is the Legacy Finisher option. To qualify for this, you must have completed the Chicago Marathon 5 times within the last 10 years. Special spots are reserved for such runners, ensuring a place in the 2025 race.
If you want to learn more about how to qualify for the Chicago Marathon, as well as get help with planning your training and logistics, check out all the details in my e-book. It contains everything you need to know to achieve your marathon dreams and compete in one of the biggest races in the world.
👉 Your Journey Through the World’s Greatest Marathons – World Marathon Majors 2025
