Brigid Kosgei breaks world record

Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei with the clock reading her World Record in Chicago, USA, yesterday. [AP]

Brigid Kosgei of Kenya last evening sensationally smashed the women marathon world record by more than a minute at the Chicago marathon.

Kosgei easily sprinted to a world record in a blistering time of 2:14: 04, chipping off one minute, 21 seconds from one held by Great Britain’s Paula Radcliff set in 2003.

During yesterday’s Chicago Marathon, Kosgei appeared to be on a world record pace from the start in a thrilling race in which Kenya’s Lawrence Cherono clinched the men’s title.

At 40 kilometres of run, it became inevitable that Radcliff’s 16-year-old 2:15:25 was living on a borrowed time.

Kosgei’s personal best time was previously 2:18:20, which she set earlier this year in the London Marathon.

She maintained a fast pace from the start, breaking far away from her pack after the half kilometre mark.

Kosgei, 25, who was in Chicago to defend her 2018 title was the race favourite for the 2019 edition and easily beat Ethiopians Ababel Yeshaneh and Gelete Burka to second and third places.

Yashenah crossed the finish line in 2:20:51 as her compatriot closed the podium in 2:20:55.

Kosgei who trains in Kapsait, Elgeyo Marakwet County under coach Eric Kimaiyo said she was expecting a win in Chicago, but had not crossed her mind that she would be racing her way to the world record.

“The course was good although there were some headwinds. It was just as good as last year,” Kosgei said after the astounding finish.

She continued: “I felt okay because of the fans who cheered me throughout the course.”

In the men’s race, Lawrence Cherono narrowly won in 2:05:45, cutting the tape one second ahead of Ethiopian Dejene Debela in 2:05:45.

Gelete Burka also from Ethiopia clocked 2:20:55 to settle on the third place.

Great Britain’s Mo Farah, the defending champion and four-time Olympic track champion settled on the eighth place in a time of 2:09:58.

Cherono congratulated Kosgei for the jaw-dropping performance and said she deserved the world record.

“I congratulate Brigid for the great achievement because she deserved it,” the reigning Boston marathon champion said.

Earlier on Thursday as he left for Chicago, Kosgei’s coach Eric Kimaiyo said he was confident the 2019 Great North Run champion was going to retain her Chicago title.