Who holds the women’s marathon world record with a time of 2:09:56?

Ruth Chepngetich holds the women’s marathon world record with a time of 2:09:56.

She set the record at the 2024 Chicago Marathon on 13 October 2024. Chepngetich became the first woman to run an official marathon in under 2 hours 10 minutes, improving Tigist Assefa’s previous record of 2:11:53 by nearly two minutes.

Her average pace was about 3 minutes 4 seconds per kilometer, or approximately 4 minutes 58 seconds per mile. She won the Chicago race by a wide margin and delivered one of the largest single improvements in the history of the women’s record.

The performance is distinct from Paula Radcliffe’s former 2:15:25 record, which stood for many years. Marathon records can change quickly when elite athletes combine fast courses, favorable weather, disciplined pacing, and deep competition.