Ruth Chepngetich’s Marathon World Record Officially Ratified by World Athletics

It’s now official—Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich has rewritten the history books. Her world record-setting time of 2:09:56, achieved at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, has been ratified by World Athletics, making her the first woman ever to run a marathon under 2:10.

Chepngetich’s performance in October didn’t just break the previous world record; it obliterated it by an incredible two minutes. The entire race was a spectacle to behold, as she came through the halfway point in 1:04:16, which not only was the fastest half-marathon run by a woman on American soil but also the fifth-fastest half-marathon run by a woman in history.

What It Takes to Ratify a World Record

When a world record is run, it doesn’t just automatically become a world record. Every world record undergoes a meticulous ratification process by World Athletics. For Chepngetich, this meant her performance had to pass through several layers of scrutiny before being officially recognized by World Athletics.

Here’s how it works:

• The course: While the Chicago Marathon is already certified as part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, the course was remeasured to ensure every meter was accurate.
• The clock: Timing systems used during the race were reviewed to guarantee they were functioning perfectly.
• Anti-doping tests: This step can take months, as samples must be analyzed by accredited labs to rule out any violations.
• Independent review: Finally, all data is reviewed by World Athletics to ensure the performance complies with their rules.

For Chepngetich’s record, this entire process was completed in just two months—much faster than the six months it took to ratify the previous record set by Tigst Assefa at the 2023 Berlin Marathon.

Reigniting The Doubts Of The Record

It’s no secret that Chepngetich’s record has been the center of controversy in the running world. Even here, among the editors at Marathon Handbook, we went back and forth with arguments both sides of the story.

Want to read both sides of the story? Check out these articles by our editor-at-large, Amby Burfoot, and our senior news editor, Jessy Carveth, respectively:

• Opinion: Why It’s Hard To Trust Ruth Chepngetich’s Marathon World Record
• Here’s Why Ruth Chepngetich’s World Record Is Completely Plausible: A Data-Driven Analysis

We also did a deep dive into both sides on our podcast:

A Big Day for World Athletics

Chepngetich’s record wasn’t the only one ratified this week. World Athletics confirmed five other records, including:

• The U.S. mixed 4x400m relay team’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
• Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s gold medal in the 400m hurdles at the same Games.
• Mondo Duplantis’s Olympic pole vault record of 6.25 meters.
• Beatrice Chebet’s blazing 28:54.14 over 10,000 meters.
• Japan’s Masatora Kawano’s men’s 35 km race walk record.