Ruth Chepng’etich has broken and utterly demolished the women’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon in a stunning display of athletic prowess.
Chepng’etich’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary. She crossed the finish line with a breathtaking time of 2:09:57, obliterating the previous world record held by Tigist Assefa by nearly two minutes.
Her victory was further emphasized by the significant gap between her and her closest competitors. Sutume Kebede claimed second place with a time of 2:17:32, a full eight minutes behind Chepng’etich. Kenya’s Irine Cheptai secured third place, finishing in 2:17:52.
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The Financial Rewards: A Well-Deserved Payday
Chepng’etich’s record-breaking run comes with a substantial financial windfall. As reported by NBC Chicago, the prize structure for the Chicago Marathon is quite lucrative:
“The winners of the races will receive 100,000 USD (approximately 12.8 million Kenya shillings)”
However, Chepng’etich’s earnings don’t stop there. Her exceptional performance has earned her additional bonuses:
“On top of that, the 30-year-old is entitled to a further 50,000 USD for setting a new course record. In total, she will take home approximately 19.3 million Kenya shillings.”
Chicago Marathon Prize Money Breakdown
The Chicago Marathon offers substantial prizes across the board for top performers:
- Open Division (Men/Women)
- 1st place: USD 100,000
- 2nd place: USD 75,000
- 3rd place: USD 50,000
Kenyan Dominance
Chepng’etich’s victory was part of a strong overall performance by Kenyan athletes at the Chicago Marathon. As the article notes:
“This means that John Korir, who won the men’s marathon, will also get 12.8 million Kenya shillings, while Chiptai and Amos Kipruto, who were third in their respective races, will get 6.4 million Kenya shillings.”