★ The Sports Examiner: Chronicling the key competitive, economic and political forces shaping elite sport and the Olympic Movement.★
★ To get the daily Sports Examiner Recap by e-mail: sign up here! ★
≡ SPOTLIGHT ≡
The continuous, swirling doubts over the sizzling 2:09:56 women’s marathon world record by Kenya’s 2019 World Champion Ruth Chepngetich at Sunday’s Chicago Marathon drew a rebuke from Athletics Kenya on Wednesday.
The federation, already under siege from more than 100 current doping sanctions
issued a statement calling for restraint and respect, including:
“Once again. Athletics Kenya would like to congratulate Ruth Chepngetich for her remarkable achievement at the Chicago Marathon. By winning the title for the third time and setting a new World Record, Ruth has earned her status as one of the finest athletes of our time.
“Her familiarity with the course, having won this prestigious marathon on two previous occasions in 2021 and 2022. played a pivotal role in her third victory, showcasing her tactfulness and athletic mastery.
“Ruth’s ascent as a star in Kenya’s athletics scene has been nothing short of extraordinary. From her World Championships win in 2019 to her consistent performance on the global stage over 5 years, she has set a high standard for others to follow. She now joins the league of other Kenyan Women World record holders including Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and Beatrice Chepkoech among others. Her latest triumph is a continuation of this stellar career, despite missing the 2024 Paris Olympics games due to illness.
“In any case, many world records were broken this year, and to single her out is utterly unfair. It is therefore disheartening to witness some sections of the media casting unwarranted doubt on her achievements. Such aspersions, made without due process, undermine not only her efforts but the integrity of the sport. It is important to note that Ruth, like all athletes in major competitions, underwent multiple anti-doping tests, both pre-race and post-race. These are standard procedures in events of this magnitude, and only after all results are verified will her record be officially ratified.
“Ruth’s achievement, while impressive, is not without precedent. Marathon records have been broken by even wider margins, affirming that her feat is well within the bounds of possibility for an athlete of her calibre.
“Her consistent performance over the years stands as testament to her dedication and excellence in the sport.
“We urge the media and the global community to give Ruth the respect she deserves and protect athletes from harassment. Let her celebrate this hard-earned victory and let us acknowledge the years of hard work and discipline that have brought her to this moment. Unfounded doubts and unfair treatment have no place in this proud moment for Kenya and for Ruth.”
Doping among Kenyan track & field athletes has been a major issue in the sport, and in the country. At present, it leads all nations with 106 individuals listed on the “ineligible persons” roster on the Athletics Integrity Unit.
¶
Another way to look at Chepngetich’s 2:09:56 is by comparison to the men’s marathon world records in recent years. It took 16 years for British star Paula Radcliffe’s 2003 women’s mark of 2:15:25 in London to be broken, but the women’s record is now been improved three times in six years in the super-shoe era.
At the same time, the men’s marathon record has been continuously improved and might have been broken again in 2024 except for the untimely death of Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum in a car crash last February, at just 24. A look at recent women’s vs. men’s marathon records:
● 2:15:25 Paula Radcliffe (GBR): 13 Apr 2003 in London (1:53 improvement)
● 2:05:38 men’s marathon record at that time: 9:47 gap
● 2:14:04 Brigid Kosgei (KEN): 13 Oct 2019 in Chicago (1:21 improvement)
● 2:01:39 men’s record at the time: 12:25 gap
● 2:11:53 Tigst Assefa (ETH): 24 Sep 2023 in Berlin (2:11 improvement)
● 2:01:09 men’s record at the time: 10:44 gap
● 2:09:56 Ruth Chepngetich (KEN): 13 Oct 2024 in Chicago (1:57 improvement)
● 2:00:35 men’s record at the time: 9:21 gap
Kiptum was slated to make a run for a sub-2:00 marathon in Amsterdam in the spring, but never got to race. Now, Chepngetich has narrowed the gap to the closest ever … until the next record.
¶
★ Receive our exclusive, weekday TSX Recap by e-mail by clicking here.
★ Sign up a friend to receive the TSX Recap by clicking here.
★ Please consider a donation here to keep this site going.
For our updated, 885-event International Sports Calendar for the rest of 2024, 2025 and beyond, by date and by sport, click here!
