World Marathon Record Set in 2003 Broken in Chicago

The women's marathon world record that Paula Radcliffe set at the London Marathon in April 2003 stood for more than 16 years—until it was smashed by Brigid Kosgei on Sunday. The 25-year-old Kenyan runner finished the Chicago Marathon in 2 hours, 14 minutes, and 4 seconds, beating Radcliffe's time by 81 seconds. Radcliffe's record was the longest-standing postwar marathon record by either men or women, reports the BBC. "I was not expecting this," Kosgei said after crossing the finish line. "But I felt my body was moving, moving, moving so I went for it. This is amazing for me."

Kosgei, whose time would have been a record for men in 1964, says she believes she can go even faster. "I think 2:10 is possible for a lady," she says. "I am focused on reducing my time again." The Guardian reports that Radcliffe looked shocked when she shook Kosgei's hand after the race. "If you had told me when I set it in 2003 that it would last that long I wouldn’t have believed it," she said. "But I always knew this time would come—and when I saw how fast Brigid was running I knew the record would go if she could maintain her pace." (Another Kenyan athlete completed a marathon in under two hours on Saturday.)