Google still lists 2:01:39 as the official World Record time of a marathon.
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runnersworld.com
When asked what she would say to people who are skeptical of her performance, given some high profile doping suspensions by Kenyan women in recent years, she distanced herself.
“About doping, me I do not know about it, those people,” she said. “It is far from me. It is different where we train. Me, I don’t know about those doping. I say each and every person can run clean. And you must work hard.”
The conditions were perfect for a record run, with temperatures around 40 degrees and light winds. With the two pacers ahead of her, Kosgei said she was protected from the breezes.
She made a last-minute decision to wear the same Nike shoes that Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya wore on Saturday in his event where he broke two hours for a marathon. Kenyans now own the men’s and women’s marathon world records. (Kipchoge’s official record was at Berlin last year, where he ran 2:01:39.)
“I appreciate what position I become and the record, which I break today,” she said. “My brother, Kipchoge, I was happy for him again. I hope Kenya now, they are happy. They have a woman and a man who are the record holders.”
The 25-year-old earns $100,000 for the win and $75,000 for breaking the Chicago course record, which was 2:17:18, also held by Radcliffe. |
