Ruth Chepng'etich Wins Chicago Marathon As Ethiopia Dominates Men's Race

11th October 2021

In the corresponding men’s race Kenyan Eric Kiptanui finished third in a race that was won by Ethiopian Seifu Tura in 2:06:12 ahead of American Galen Rupp who was second

Kenya's Ruth Chepng'etich celebrates after winning the 2021 Chicago Marathon. PHOTO | World Athletics
Kenya's Ruth Chepng'etich celebrates after winning the 2021 Chicago Marathon. PHOTO | World Athletics
SUMMARY
  • World Champion Ruth Chepng’etich produced a remarkable solo effort to win the 2021 Chicago women’s marathon title on Sunday
  • American duo of Emma Bates who came second, one minute 49 seconds later and Sara Hall in third, four minutes 48 seconds behind the winner
  • Chepng’etich set a world half-marathon record of 1:04:02 in April at Istanbul and her marathon best of 2:17:08 to win at Dubai in 2019 makes her the fourth-fastest woman in history at the distance

World Champion Ruth Chepng’etich produced a remarkable solo effort to win the 2021 Chicago women’s marathon title on Sunday.

Chepng’etich put her Tokyo 2020 Olympics disappointment aside, leading from gun to tape to dominate the race in a time of 2hrs 22 min 31sec.

American duo of Emma Bates who came second, one minute 49 seconds later and Sara Hall in third, four minutes 48 seconds behind the winner.

Chepng’etich, who was racing in USA for the first time won for the fifth time in six marathon starts.

"The race was good but it was not easy. I pushed alone from the 10k.

"The weather was nice. I believed in myself and I was fortunate and I pushed myself," the 27-year old stated.

By 10km, Chepng’etich had stretched her lead over fellow Kenyan Kiplagat, who finished fifth, to 27 seconds with no one else within two minutes.

Chepng’etich set a world half-marathon record of 1:04:02 in April at Istanbul and her marathon best of 2:17:08 to win at Dubai in 2019 makes her the fourth-fastest woman in history at the distance.

In the corresponding men’s race Kenyan Eric Kiptanui finished third in a race that was won by Ethiopian Seifu Tura in 2:06:12 ahead of American Galen Rupp who was second.

The 26.2-mile event was canceled by Covid-19 last year but runners were back after 728 days on a flat course through the streets of the “Windy City” in warm and breezy conditions.