Ruth Chepng’etich to pocket millions after making history in Chicago
Ruth Chepng’etich will take home over Ksh19 million following her record-breaking performance at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.
Chep’ngetich made history in the Windy City when she set a new mark of 2:09:56. She breaks the world record of 2:11:53, set in Berlin in 2023 by Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa.
Chepng’etich etches her name in the annals of global athletics
She becomes the first woman to run an official marathon under 2:10:00. This feat marks a significant shift in women’s marathon running as the World Record returns to Kenya after Assefa had obliterated Brigid Kosgei’ mark.
Following the triumph, Chepng’etich is assured of a big pay cheque from her historic feat achieved in just two hours as she will take home a total of around Ksh19,375,500.
The Chicago marathon’s elite status
The Chicago Marathon is one of the highest paying among the six World Marathon Majors. It has a prize money of $100,000 (Ksh12.9 million) for its winners. Additionally there is a bonus of $50,000 (Ksh6.5 million) for athletes who break the course or word record.
That means Chepngetich, who has now won in Chicago thrice, will pocket (Ksh19.4 million) for her master stroke. This is once her world record is finally ratified by World Athletics.
Another Kenyan John Korir, who triumphed in the men’s race in 2:02:43, the second fastest time ever recorded in Chicago, will walk home with the wines prize of $100,000 (Ksh12.9 million), with the men’s course record proving too far after the late Kelvin Kiptum set an astonishing world record of 2:00:35 last year.
Other Kenyans who will walk home with hefty bounties
The prize money is spread to the top five positions with $75,000 (Ksh9.7 million), $50,000 (Ksh6.5 million), $30,000 (Ksh3.9 million) and $25,000 (Ksh3.2 million) reserved for runners who finish in second, third, fourth and fifth positions respectively.
It means Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, Vincent Ngetich and Daniel Ebenyo take home the millions set aside for third, fourth and fifth place finishers in Chicago and so are Irene Cheptai (third) and Joyciline Jepkosgei (fifth).
