Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei breaks Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year record to win the 2019 Chicago Marathon

On Sunday, October 13th, Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei eclipsed the 16-year-old women’s marathon world record held by Britain’s Paula Radcliffe as she retained her Chicago title.  

The 25-year-old recorded a time of two hours 14 minutes 04 seconds, easily inside Radcliffe’s mark of 2:15:25 set at the London Marathon in 2003. It adds to the Kenyan’s win in London this year when she clocked 2:18:20 and became the youngest winner of the race.  

Ethiopa’s Ababel Yeshaneh was second in Chicago, with six minutes 47 seconds behind.

The Kenyan, who won last year in 2:18:35, admitted: “I was not expecting to run like this.” Radcliffe’s 2003 time was the longest-standing marathon world record by either men or women in the post-war era.

The former world champion was at the finish line in Chicago to witness Kosgei’s remarkable performance and was among the first to congratulate her.  “When I saw how fast Brigid was running in the first half I knew it was going to be broken,” said Radcliffe.