Ruth Chepng'etich faces stern marathon test as she returns to Chicago with unfinished business

ATHLETICS Ruth Chepng'etich faces stern marathon test as she returns to Chicago with unfinished business

Abigael Wafula 05:00 - 22.06.2023

She won last year’s marathon in fashion when she cut the tape in 2:14:18 to miss Brigid Kosgei’s world record by just 14 seconds.

Two-time Chicago Marathon champion Ruth Chepng'etich will return to the iconic streets of Chicago on Sunday 8 October to defend her title and is bound to face a stern test.

She won last year’s race in fashion when she cut the tape in 2:14:18 to miss Brigid Kosgei’s world record by just 14 seconds.

She returns to the tough course with a quest to defend her title, secure her third crown, and hopefully finish her business of breaking the world record.

“I am planning to defend my title and improve my time,” she said, as quoted by Athletics Weekly.

Her greatest opposition will come from Dutch woman Sifan Hassan who will be racing her second marathon following her debut victory at the London Marathon in April. She won in a Dutch record of 2:18:33.

Since then she has successfully returned to track racing and her big goal of the summer is the World Championships in Budapest in August – on the track – before returning to the roads six weeks later.

“At the moment, my focus is on the World Championships in Budapest, so my marathon preparation will be very short, but as most people know, I like to be challenged.

"I will see how my body responds and how my mind handles it. The good thing is that I have the experience from London so I’m looking forward to Chicago, to see what the marathon can teach me this time,” Hassan said.

Added to the deep field is US record-holder Emily Sisson who set a national record of 2:18:29 and she will also be hoping to lower that time.

There are expected to be 45,000 runners in total for what will be the 45th edition of the race.

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