Fionnuala McCormack has finished fifth in the 2019 Chicago Marathon, smashing her personal best time and earning a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in the process.
The 35-year old finished in a time of 2:26:47, shaving almost four minutes off her previous personal best. The time puts her in second place on the all-time on the Irish list.
Fionnuala McCormack smashes her previous marathon best (2:30:38) to finish fifth in Chicago in 2:26:47 and secures Tokyo Olympics qualification. Goes number 2 on Irish all-time list
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) October 13, 2019
See how freely Fionnuala McCormack was running at the end of her 5th place finish in Chicago, a race in which Brigid Kosgei broke the world record & McCormack moved to No 2 on Irish alltime list with 2.26.47, equivalent to more than a kilometer of road quicker than she’s ever run https://t.co/BUB7fYABfh
— Greg Allen (@gregallenRTE) October 13, 2019
This was the second fastest time ever run by an Irishwoman, with only Catherina McKiernan sitting ahead of McCormack.
It was a day for record breaking times, with winner Brigid Kosgei breaking the 16-year old world record held by Paula Radcliffe.
The Kenyan completed the course in a time of 2:14:2, which takes one minute and 21 seconds off the mark set by the British woman in London in 2003.
WORLD RECORD: Brigid Kosgei sets the new world record in the marathon at the 2019 @BankofAmerica #ChicagoMarathon! pic.twitter.com/lakum2XoET
— Chicago Marathon (@ChiMarathon) October 13, 2019
Kenya's Lawrence Cherono won the men's event, with defending champion Mo Farrah finishing in eighth place.
