RUTH CHEPNGETICH has set a new women’s marathon world record.

The Kenyan, 30, ran an astonishing 2:09:57 at the Chicago Marathon earlier today.

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In doing so, she became the first woman to break the 2:10:00 barrier.

In fact, she smashed the previous record by nearly two minutes.

The last world record had been set by Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia in Berlin 13 months ago.

After the race, Chepngetich dedicated her incredible achievement to the late Kelvin Kiptum.

London Marathon winner and world record holder Kiptum tragically died aged just 24 in a car crash earlier this year.

His coach Garvais Hakizimana was also killed in the tragic crash.

After today’s Chicago Marathon, Chepngetich said: “This world record I’m dedicating to Kelvin Kiptum.

“I’m so happy. I don’t know how to explain.”

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She then admitted that she had felt before the race that she could set a new world record.

Chepngetich added: “I feel so great. The world record is my dream, that has now come true.

“I fought a lot thinking about the world record and now I’ve fulfilled it. I’m so grateful.

“This year the weather was perfect and I prepared well. The world record was on my mind.”

Her previous personal best was also set in Chicago back in 2022.

This time around, however, she shaved nearly five minutes off her former PB.

Chepngetich placed tenth overall in the Chicago Marathon.

She was one of two Kenyans to triumph in Chicago today, with John Korir setting a personal best 2:02:44 to win the men’s race.

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Justin Gaethje is nearing a return to action in the UFC, but likely won’t fight until sometime in 2025.

While no exact date has been revealed yet, Gaethje’s longtime manager Ali Abdelaziz revealed that the former “BMF” champion is still taking the necessary time to recover from his knockout loss to Max Holloway at UFC 300 this past April before booking his next fight. Gaethje has always been adamant about allowing his brain and body to heal after a hard fight, which is why fans probably won’t see him back in action this year.

“Justin Gaethje’s going to fight in March,” Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting. “Against who, I have no idea.”

Arguably the most exciting fighter in the UFC, Gaethje seems to find a way to make all of his appearances entertaining, which is why he’s never been picky when it comes to a list of potential opponents.

Abdelaziz admitted there are a few names at the top of the list, but Gaethje has never shied away from anybody the UFC has offered him in the past and that’s highly unlikely to change now.

“It can be [Dan] Hooker. It can be Dustin Poirier. It can be [Renato] Moicano,” Abdelaziz said. “Whatever it is. I don’t know but I would like to see Justin fight in March. He needs a little bit of time to recover after his last fight. He deserves that.”

Following a stunning knockout of Dustin Poirier in July 2023, Gaethje returned with a marquee fight booked against Holloway at UFC 300 in April.

Unfortunately for Gaethje, that fight didn’t go his way after he suffered a brutal broken nose in the first round when Holloway caught him with a perfectly timed spin kick. In the end, Gaethje battled it out with Holloway until the final second when he threw down with the former featherweight champion in a wild exchange that saw Holloway catch Gaethje with a punch that ended his night at 4:59 in the fifth round.

Now, as Gaethje looks to bounce back and return to the win column, Abdelaziz says he is happy to fight whoever the UFC throws at him once he’s ready to fight.

“I think he’ll be ready in March to fight,” Abdelaziz said. “Against who? Justin Gaethje doesn’t pick opponents.”

FOX Sports’ Bucky Brooks recently outlined the challenges the Las Vegas Raiders might have in trading Davante Adams, their unhappy star receiver who is nonetheless in decline and carrying an expensive contract. It turns out that these issues might actually prevent a deal.

ESPN reported on Sunday morning that Adams could end up staying with the Raiders, citing sources as saying while there is interest in Adams, it is not “phone-is-ringing-off-the-hook” interest. 

Peter Schrager explained on “FOX NFL Kickoff” on Sunday morning that the Raiders’ asking price was an issue.

“The asking price seems to be too high,” he said. “A second-round pick and the Raiders apparently want whoever takes him on to take on the entire contract. That does not seem normal or reasonable at this stage of the season.”

Adams, 32, still has $11.8 million remaining on his contract. He is a two-time All-Pro with five 1,000-yard seasons and 96 receiving touchdowns across 10-plus seasons, but he has just 18 catches for 209 yards in three games this season.

[Related: Davante Adams is on the decline, but these 5 teams could make a trade work]

Schrager said that Adams might be changing his stance on a trade.

“So it seems like Davante Adams has changed his tune — that there is a chance he returns to the Raiders when he gets back from that hamstring injury,” he said. “And from what I’ve been told, in the building, he’s been great, and he actually gets along with Aidan O’Connell, and maybe the quarterback change from [Gardner] Minshew to O’Connell could help bring him back in the fold.”

There has been some thought that Adams would like to rejoin Aaron Rodgers with the New York Jets, as the pair were highly productive together across eight seasons with the Packers.

Schrager said on Sunday that the New York Jets “are still interested in that trade.” 

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Hayden Paddon clinched the 2024 European Rally Championship title after finishing third at the Rally Silesia season finale.

One-time World Rally Championship event winners Paddon and co-driver John Kennard led the Polish asphalt rally heading into the final day with a 6.8s margin over Skoda duo Andrea Mabellini and co-driver Virginia Lenzi. 

Armed with a 27-point lead over nearest title rival and fifth-placed Mathieu Franceschi, Paddon could afford to relax to some degree to secure the title. 

Paddon and Kennard’s BRC-run Hyundai i20- led the rally until stage 11 where Mabellini overhauled the New Zealanders to grab the lead. Paddon survived a late scare when he briefly went off the road in the penultimate stage, before coming home to finish the rally in third (+19.9s).

Mabellini claimed an emotional first ERC victory while M-Sport-Ford’s Jon Armstrong also fought back emotions after securing his first ERC podium in second, 18.4s adrift. 

“It feels great. The [last]11 kilometres were the longest of my life. I want to thank everybody as it has been an incredible journey. We started in Rally5 then went to Rally4 and then Rally2 last year, so I’m really happy,” said Mabellini.  

Armstrong added: “It is hard not to get emotional as it has been a hard year and I have been trying really hard and it is good to show now that we can finally do the pace.” 

Andrea Mabellini, Virginia Lenzi, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2

Photo by: atWorld

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Paddon’s third pace marked a successful defence of the ERC title he won last year, which seemed unlikely at times after a difficult campaign that yielded only one podium from the first six events. 

However, a dominant victory in Wales at Rali Ceredigion last month put him in the box seat to clinch the championship, although budget constraints meant the Kiwi was unsure if he would compete in the Poland finale, before eventually finding the funds. 

“It is a relief, it has been a season of two halves. We haven’t shown the outright speed we wanted to but through determination and grit the whole team just did it,” said Paddon.

“The biggest thing this year was to not give up you know halfway through we were all  bit disheartened as to where we were at so it is massive credit to the team and everyone involved.”

As for the future, Paddon, who has previously stated that this year may be his last in the European Rally Championship, added: “I will take it each day at a time and if this is our last European Championship rally I would like to say a big thanks to all the fans over here that have been supporting us and making us feel at home. 

“It feels like a big family and who knows what the next step is, but we have ticked this one off, so we will enjoy it.” 

Elsewhere, M-Sport-Ford WRC driver Adrien Fourmaux claimed victory at Rallylegend.

Fourmaux and co-driver Alexandre Coria piloted an M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 through the San Marino rally festival’s 12 stages to claim a victory by 1m56.1s from Luca Pedersoli, driving a Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC. 

The podium was completed by 2008 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix winner Heikki Kovalainen. The Finn shared a Citroen C3 WRC with Esapekka Lappi’s recently retired WRC co-driver Janne Ferm.

Meanwhile, Reigning world rally champion Kalle Rovanpera signed off his first circuit racing campaign in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux by taking his third race win at the season finale at Zolder. The factory Toyota WRC driver had scored victories at Imola and the Red Bull Ring. 

Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich broke the world record to win the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

The 30-year-old clocked a time of two hours, nine minutes and 57 seconds to surpass Ethiopian Tigst Assefa’s previous record by nearly two minutes.

Chepngetich is the first woman to run a marathon in under two hours and 10 minutes.

Assefa set the previous record with victory at the 2023 Berlin Marathon in two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds.

“I feel so great, I’m proud of myself. This is my dream that has come true,” said Chepngetich, the 2019 world marathon champion.

“I’ve fought a lot thinking about the world record and I have fulfilled it.”

Victory for Chepngetich is her third in Chicago, where she missed out on breaking compatriot Brigid Kosgei’s then-world record by 14 seconds in 2022.

Four of the five fastest women’s marathon times have been run on the flat Chicago course over the last six years.

BRUNO FERNANDES has revealed that he had “concrete offers” to leave Manchester United in the summer transfer window.

The Red Devils have got off to a sloppy start in the Premier League this season and are languishing in 14th place.

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Pressure has been mounting on manager Erik ten Hag after the club’s worst start to a Premier League campaign.

The Dutchman almost went into the season without his captain, who could have left in the summer.

Fernandes, 30, has revealed that he was approached by other clubs and admitted that it was “possible” that he could have moved.

The Portuguese midfielder has become a crucial player at Old Trafford since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon in 2020.

But after three and a half seasons he could have been on his way to pastures news.

He told ESPN: “I was approached [by other clubs], the club was aware that there was a possibility of me leaving, I had concrete offers.

“But the club showed that it needed me, that it was at a time of change and that they wanted to do things differently.”

Fernandes also insisted that he is enjoying his time with the Portuguese national team more so than at Man United.

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He added: “It’s not a positive moment.

“We’re not winning games, and the national team space is completely different. I’ve felt very at ease.

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“The dynamics are very good. I’m in my country, I speak my language, and I have better food.

“I have demonstrated a good level in the national team.

“It’s a space where I feel good and I feel like I can enjoy my football at a very high level, due to the dynamics we have and the quality I have at my side.”

Fernandes featured in Portugal’s 3-1 win over Poland in the Nations League.

After the game, he caught up with former Red Devil Maxi Oyedele, and they swapped shirts.

Fernandes has also claimed that Sporting manager Ruben Amorim is ready for a job in the Premier League.

His comments about the coach’s credentials came while Ten Hag’s future remains in doubt.