Home > Runs & Races

Brigid Kosgei runs women’s marathon world record of 2:14:04 (unofficial)

Kosgei shatters one of the most difficult world records in the books

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei ran a women’s marathon world record of 2:14:04 on Sunday at the Chicago Marathon. Other than her pacers, the runner was completely alone for almost the entire marathon. She shattered Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old world record of 2:15:25, which many considered to be nearly unbeatable and one of the toughest records in the books.

RELATED: Brigid Kosgei ran a faster half-marathon than all but 13 Canadian men in history

It’s not shocking that Kosgei is the woman to take this record down. She ran a 1:04:28 half-marathon on September 10 the Great North Run in Newcastle, UK, which was under the 1:04:51 world record set by Joyciline Jepkosgei in 2017. (The record couldn’t be ratified, since the Great North Run is contested on a point-to-point course, but Kosgei’s performance remains the fastest-ever half-marathon run by a woman.) She’s also the 2019 London Marathon champion and 2018 Chicago champion.

Kosgei won on Sunday by a shocking margin of six minutes. Second place went to Ababel Yeshaneh of Ethiopia in 2:20:51 and third place to Gelete Burka of Ethiopia in 2:20:55. American’s Emma Bates was fourth in a massive personal best of 2:25:27.

https://twitter.com/runcamille/status/1183398690901225472

RELATED:Brigid Kosgei sets course record at Great North Run

Canadian Natasha LeBeaud finished in 2:45:47.

Check out the latest buyer's guide:

The best trainers in Canada under $150

We curated the best performance trainers under $150 to meet your 2024 running goals, while staying on budget