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John Korir, who set a new personal best time in a dominant victory at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, has explained how his big brother Wesley & the Kelvin Kiptum helped him make history.
In a thrilling display of endurance, John Korir emerged victorious at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, crossing the finish line in a commanding 2:02:43.
His time placed him nearly two minutes ahead of Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa, who clocked 2:04:39. Korir’s win was more than just a personal achievement; it was a tribute to the guidance of his older brother, former marathon champion Wesley Korir, and the lasting legacy of the late Kelvin Kiptum.
Korir, younger brother of the renowned Wesley, made a decisive move at the 30km mark, breaking away from the leading pack and never looking back.
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18:10 - 13.10.2024
John Korir keeps Kelvin Kiptum's legacy alive as he wins 2024 Chicago Marathon
Korir dominated the event as he dominated the final stretches of the tedious Chicago road to clinch the 2024 edition, keeping Kelvin Kiptum's legacy alive
Reflecting on his performance, Korir revealed that his initial focus was not on setting a personal best, but simply on securing victory. However, the encouragement from both his coach and his brother helped fuel his winning mindset.
“It feels good. I want to thank the race directors for inviting me, Asics for their support, and especially my coach and big brother Wesley,” Korir told NBC Chicago.
“When we came here, we weren’t aiming for the record, just the win. But both my coach and Wesley told me, ‘Just believe in yourself, you can do it.’”
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18:20 - 13.10.2024
Incredible Ruth Chepngetich smashes women's world record to claim victory at 2024 Chicago Marathon
It was a race against time for Chepngetich, who ran majority of the race in the company of pace setter having left the chasing pack behind.
Korir’s triumph in Chicago also carried a special significance, as the city was where the late Kelvin Kiptum had set a world record of 2:00:35 in 2023, narrowly lowering the two-hour mark.
Tragically, Kiptum died in a road accident in Kenya’s Rift Valley a few months later, but his remarkable feat left a lasting impact on the marathon world—and on Korir’s own race.
“Today, I was thinking about Kiptum, and I said to myself, ‘If he ran 2:01, why not me?’” Korir admitted. “I had to believe in myself and give it my best.”
In addition to his own success, Korir praised Kenyan marathoner Ruth Chepngetich for her groundbreaking performance in the women’s race.
Chepngetich shattered the women’s world record with a time of 2:09:56, becoming the first woman to run under 2:10:00 and reclaiming the title from Ethiopia’s Tsiget Asefa, who had set a 2:11:53 record at the Berlin Marathon in 2023.
“I think it’s amazing,” Korir said. “The Ethiopians set the world record in Berlin, but now Ruth has brought it back to Kenya. We’re all so proud and enjoying it.”
Korir’s victory in Chicago, coupled with Chepngetich’s historic run, marks a celebratory moment for Kenyan marathoners, reinforcing their dominance on the global stage.
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