TheCable

Like compatriot, Eliud Kipchoge, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei has broken Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old women’s marathon world record.

She defended her Chicago title after completing a sensational weekend of road running, winning the IAAF Gold Label road race in 2:14:04 on Sunday.

Radcliffe record of two hours, 15 minutes and 25 seconds was set at the London Marathon in 2003.

Kosgei’s run came over 24 hours after fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge became the first man to cover 26.2 miles within two hours, clocking 1:59:41 in Vienna.

Unlike Kipchoge’s performance, though, the 25-year old’s mark was set in an official race on a record-eligible course.

Kosgei, who won in Chicago last year with 2:18:35 and improved her personal best to 2:18:20 to win in London earlier this year, set out at a blisteringly fast pace, covering the first 5km in 15:28.

She finished more than six minutes ahead of Ababel Yeshaneh, who ran two hours, 20 minutes and 51 seconds, and Gelete Burka, who ran two hours, 20 minutes and 55 seconds — as Ethiopia finished second and third respectively.

The Kenyan, who became the youngest winner in London earlier in 2019, has now won three marathons after victory in Chicago in 2018 and was congratulated by Radcliffe at the finish.

Former world record holder @paulajradcliffe poses with Brigid Kosgei at the finish after Kosgei broke the record this morning at the 2019 @BankofAmerica #ChicagoMarathon 🏆 pic.twitter.com/niyGYZJ5Tp

— Chicago Marathon (@ChiMarathon) October 13, 2019

The race, though, was all about Kosgei’s world record attempt and she showed no signs of fading in the closing stages. The pace makers peeled away before the final two miles as Kosgei forged on alone.

With about 20 seconds left of running, she couldn’t help but smile as she realised the magnitude of what she was about to achieve. Moments later, she crossed the line in 2:14:04 to take 81 seconds off the longest-standing marathon world record – men’s or women’s – in the post-war era.

Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono, who won the 2019 Boston Marathon, claimed the men’s contest in 2:05:45.

Ethiopia’s Dejene Debela was second in 2:05:46 while Asefa Mengstu secured third position with 2:05:48.