Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya smashed the world record by nearly two minutes at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, winning in 2 hours, 9 minutes, and 56 seconds.

The 30-year-old Chepngetich broke the world record set by Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia in 2:11:53 at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia finished second in 2:17:32.

“I feel so great. I’m very proud of myself,” Chepngetich said. “This is my dream. I fought a lot, thinking about the world record.”

Chepngetich became the first woman to break 2:10 in the marathon. She also won the Chicago Marathon in 2021 and 2022 and finished runner-up last year.

John Korir of Kenya won the men’s race in 2:02:44, besting Huseydin Mohamed Esa of Ethiopia, who finished in 2:04:39.Korir and Chepngetich ran in honor of the late Kelvin Kiptum of Kenya, who broke the world record by 34 seconds, finishing in 2:00:35, at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

“The world record has come back to Kenya,” Chepngetich said. “I dedicate this world record to Kelvin Kiptum.”

Police said the 24-year-old Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana, died in a car accident in February after hitting a tree near a training area in Kaptagat, Kenya.

Organizers held a moment of silence for Kiptum before the race and offered the nearly 50,000 runners a memorial sticker to add to their bibs. The 26.2-mile race started and ended in Grant Park.

The field included several runners from Santa Cruz County. Aptos’ Zach Rosenbaum (3:01:08) took 3,497th and Santa Cruz’s Ryan Brady (3:01:52) took 3,619th.

Santa Cruz’s Sarah Kletzer (3:29:04) took 11,293rd, Scotts Valley’s Kelly Lehman Goswamy (3:36:13) took 13,620th and Santa Cruz’s Jared Leake (3:38:04) took 14,230th

Santa Cruz’s Tanguy Leborgne (3:58:00) took 21,973rd and Erin Murphy (3:55:31) took 20,835th.

Watsonville’s Kathryn Wann (4:45:38) took 36,241st, and Santa Cruz’s Erin Power (4:49:07) took 37,142nd.

Skateboarding

Gold Rush Classic >> Aptos skateboarding mom Judi Oyama, a Hall of Fame shredder who turns 65 on Oct. 22, took first place in the Gold Rush Classic Super G race in Fair Oaks on Saturday.

Oyama ran unopposed in the women’s masters competition after competing a run through the sloped 1,600-foot course, which featured 30-35 cones. She earned $1,000 and a medal for her finish.

Skaters reached reached speeds of 35 mph on a portion of Winding Oak Drive, which was closed to traffic for the competition. Entrants used a push start instead of dropping in off of start ramps.

“Wow, that was hill!” Oyama wrote on Instagram. You couldn’t see the bottom from the start.”

Women’s volleyball

C2C Invitational >> UC Santa Cruz earned a pair of victories to close the two-day C2C Invitational in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Sunday.

The Banana Slugs beat Christopher Newport, 25-20, 16-25, 25-19, 27-25 and swept Mary Washington 25-21, 25-17, 30-28.

Senior opposite Ashley Magley had 11 kills in the win over Christopher Newport. Senior middle blocker Kelly Ann Greene had 10 kills, four aces, and two blocks, and sophomore outside hitter/defensive specialist Kate Lau had nine kills and 19 digs. Freshman setter Margo Melgoza made 22 assists and sophomore setter Michaela Augustine made 19 assists

Lau had 10 kills, three blocks, and seven digs against Mary Washington. Greene served five aces. Melgoza made 22 assists and six digs, and Augustine made 18 assists. Junior outside hitter Anna Hospodar made 16 digs.

UCSC (11-11) hosts Feather River on Saturday at 7 p.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.