Kenya’s marathon sensation Ruth Chepngetich made history on Sunday, October 13, by breaking the women’s marathon world record at the Chicago Marathon with an incredible time of 2:09:56.
This performance not only cemented her place among the greats of long-distance running but also made her the first woman in history to complete a marathon in under 2 hours and 10 minutes.
While Chepngetich’s feat was met with awe and admiration, it was also followed by scrutiny, as doping concerns have cast a shadow over Kenya’s athletics scene.
Breaking Records on the Streets of Chicago
Chepngetich’s remarkable run in Chicago has drawn comparisons to her compatriot Brigid Kosgei’s world-record-breaking performance five years earlier.
In 2019, Kosgei set the women’s marathon record at 2:14:04 on the same course, breaking Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old record.
Now, Ruth Chepngetich has not only followed in her footsteps but has decimated the previous record, setting a new benchmark for female marathon runners worldwide.
Starting the race with blistering speed, Chepngetich clocked an astonishing 15:00 minutes in the first 5 kilometers, signaling her intent to aim for greatness.
Closely pursued by Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede, Chepngetich maintained her commanding pace throughout most of the race.
As the kilometers wore on, she slowed only slightly, crossing the finish line in 2:09:56, nearly two minutes faster than the previous record set by Tigist Assefa at the Berlin Marathon in 2023.
Her dominant performance left Kebede trailing far behind, as the Ethiopian runner finished the marathon in 2:17:32, a full seven minutes and 36 seconds behind Chepngetich.
The progression of athleticism (in terms of athletic feats) over the past 15 years is stunning. 9 of the last 10 women’s records have been broken in the last 5 years. https://t.co/hiTGvGXfPM pic.twitter.com/kX1AQrUPLc
— George Basile (@BallAndPolicy) October 13, 2024
RECOMMENDED:
- Ruth Chepng’etich to Pocket KES 19.3M After Breaking World Record
- Ruth Chepngetich SMASHES World Record at Chicago Marathon – A Historic Victory for Kenya
Doping Questions Cast a Shadow Over Glory
Despite the remarkable achievement, Chepngetich’s moment of glory has been marred by the inevitable doping questions that arise whenever a Kenyan athlete excels on the international stage.
Kenya, which is currently on the World Athletics doping watchlist, has been grappling with numerous cases of athletes testing positive for banned substances. This has led to an unfortunate reality where top performances by Kenyan athletes are often viewed with suspicion.
Chepngetich, like Brigid Kosgei before her, has had to face these doubts. After her groundbreaking victory, questions about the legitimacy of her performance surfaced almost immediately during the post-race press conference.
This is not the first time a Kenyan marathoner has faced such scrutiny; Kosgei’s world record in 2019 was met with controversy due to her use of Nike Zoom VaporFly Next% shoes, which many claimed gave her an unfair advantage.
Chepngetich’s performance, while not involving controversial footwear, still faced skepticism due to Kenya’s ongoing struggles with doping scandals.
The mere association with a country under heightened scrutiny has made it difficult for even clean athletes to escape the shadow of doubt.
The conversation around her victory quickly shifted from celebrating her record-breaking achievement to questioning whether it was accomplished cleanly.
Kenya’s Battle Against Doping
Kenya’s reputation in the athletics world has taken a hit over the past few years due to a series of high-profile doping cases.
This has placed Kenyan runners under a microscope, with every achievement questioned and analyzed. The country has been placed on the “A list” by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), meaning Kenya faces extra scrutiny and stricter regulations to ensure clean competition.
Doping questions are always going to come especially with incredible performance and crazy times.
Ruth just seemed shocked that the question actually came so directly.
Kenya should absolutely clean up its house, otherwise athletes will keep facing questions & doubts https://t.co/X2u4WfTjuA
— Lynne Wachira (@WachiraLynne) October 13, 2024
The Kenyan government has been urged to take stronger action against doping to protect the country’s international reputation and safeguard the integrity of its athletes.
Many Kenyan athletes, both past and present, have called for more stringent measures to be taken against dopers to preserve the country’s proud legacy in distance running.
While it’s clear that doping is a real issue, the challenge is ensuring that innocent athletes like Ruth Chepngetich don’t become guilty by association. Chepngetich has not tested positive for any banned substances, and there is no evidence to suggest she was anything but clean during her record-breaking run.
Still, the stigma remains, and until Kenya can fully rid itself of the doping menace, its athletes will continue to face such unwarranted suspicions.
