After much anticipation, the Chicago Marathon took place on October 13th, and it certainly lived up to the hype. Viewers were on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the final sprint to victory. However, it was Ruth Chepngetich who stole all the headlines. Rightfully so, as she delivered one of the most remarkable performances in marathon history, dominating the race and leaving an indelible mark on this year’s event.

The Kenyan runner left spectators in awe as she shattered the world record by nearly two minutes, finishing the race in a blistering 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds. That translates to an astonishing five minutes per mile for over 26 miles—an achievement that has redefined marathon performance and could stand unchallenged for years. However, Ruth Chepngetich wasn’t the only record-breaker at the Chicago Marathon. Several other athletes also set new personal and event records, deserving recognition for their remarkable feats on this historic day.

Course record set in the women’s wheelchair race

History was created in the women’s wheelchair category of the Chicago Marathon. Catherine Debrunner won the race with such dominance that no other competitors were visible when she crossed the finish line. Over the distance of 26.2 miles, she maintained her lead by a considerable margin and won the race with a time of one hour and thirty-six minutes.

This might set a new course record, as the last one was two minutes slower. While her time is yet to be certified, all signs seem to be pointing towards Catherine, breaking the record. This race was another testament to the incredible form she has displayed since her debut in Berlin two years ago and won that race consecutively. Thus, she seems like she will be the athlete to beat in this category for years to come.

The men’s marathon record now has a second-fastest time

While the women’s race deservedly garnered attention due to Ruth Chepngetich’s incredible performance, the men’s race was equally spectacular. Another Kenyan athlete, John Korir, stole the spotlight by racing his way to victory with a personal best time of 2 hours, 2 minutes, and 44 seconds.

However, what made this even more special is the fact that this will go down in the history books as the second fastest timing ever posted in a marathon. It is only topped by Kelvin Keptum’s insane world record in 2023. Korir’s potential was quite evident in 2021, when he won his first Los Angeles marathon.

He went on to win it again the next year, showing the world that he’s one of the athletes to look out for. The Kenyan first appeared in the Chicago Marathon in 2022, where he finished third. He would appear again the year later and would end up finishing fourth. Thus, victory this year in such a spectacular fashion will be special to him.

Largest finisher field in Chicago Marathon history

Other than the incredible world records set by brilliant athletes in the marathon, it also broke another very special one. This year saw the largest attendance in the history of the Chicago Marathon with 52,150 people. It topped last year’s numbers by quite a margin, as it contained 47,000 people.

This was indeed a proud and cherished moment for the organizers, showcasing the trust that both athletes and civilians place in the event to pursue and achieve their diverse goals. Whether the objective is fitness or glory, the shared ambition binds all participants together. The success of this year’s marathon has only increased anticipation for next year’s race, scheduled for October 12th, 2025. With any luck, it will be just as thrilling and memorable as this year’s edition.