Kenya's Brigid Kosgei has smashed Paula Radcliffe's marathon record time in Chicago.
The record held by Radcliffe had been held for 16 years set in London 2003. The 25-year-old recorded a time of two hours 14 minutes 04 seconds, a good 81 seconds inside Radcliffe's mark of 2:15:25.
Radcliffe's 2003 time was the longest-standing marathon world record by either men or women in the post-war era.
Ethiopa's Ababel Yeshaneh was second in Chicago, six minutes 47 seconds behind.
Only 22 runners in the men's race finished faster than Kosgei, whose time would have been a men's world record in 1964.
Kosgei, who won last year in 2:18:35, admitted: "I am feeling good and happy because I was not expecting to run like this."
It was a marathon double over the weekend for athletes wearing the controversial Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% running shoe. Eliud Kipchoge was in similar footwear when he smashed the men's marathon record. The Ethopian athlete broke the two-hour barrier for the 26-miler.
Pace
There was a scarcely believable early pace to Kosgei's race in Chicago, with the first five miles covered in just 25 minutes and 10 seconds.
That speed didn't relent, Kosgei went through halfway in just a second less than 67 minutes. It was clear the record was on, as that is over a minute faster at that point than Radcliffe in 2003.
The former British Athlete and Nike Ambassador was at the finish line in Chicago to witness Kosgei's remarkable performance.
“If you had told me when I set it in 2003 that it would last that long I wouldn’t have believed it,” Radcliffe said. “But I always knew this time would come – and when I saw how fast Brigid was running I knew the record would go if she could maintain her pace.”
Kosgei has other major targets in her sights following the obliteration of Radcliffe's record. “I think 2:10 is possible for a lady,” she said. “I am focused on reducing my time again.”
