Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich didn’t simply have a bad day last Saturday when she missed the podium at the 10K Athletics Kenya Prisons Cross Country Championships in Ruiru, Kenya. The marathon world record holder revealed to Mozzart Sport on Tuesday that a malaria infection had left her bedridden the day before the race–and she was surprised she was even able to cross the finish line.
“I thank God for completing the race. I did not expect to complete the race because I was sick. On Friday, I struggled to wake up in the morning, but I had to do my best because this is work,” she said. “Malaria put me down, but I will get better.” Chepngetich clocked 33:51 to claim fourth, while Kenya’s Loice Chemining won in 33:09.
Malaria is a serious–and potentially fatal–disease typically transmitted by infected mosquitoes. It can also be passed along through blood transfusions from infected individuals, or through the use of contaminated syringes. Symptoms, which appear 10-15 days after being bitten, include fever, diarrhea, headache, nausea or vomiting, sweats, chills and muscle or stomach pain. Blood tests are required to diagnose the disease; if diagnosed early, it can usually be completely cured through anti-malarial medication.
Ruth Chepngetich shatters women’s world record at Chicago Marathon
Chepngetich claimed her world record of 2:09:57 at October’s Chicago Marathon, becoming the first woman to break the two-hour 10-minute mark. Her time also demolished Tigst Assefa’s previous world record of 2:11:53 by nearly two minutes.
The 30-year-old is headlining the 2025 London Marathon on April 27, alongside Assefa, the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan and Kenya’s Peres Chepchirchir. If she makes a full recovery, Chepngetich will undoubtedly be aiming for redemption after her performance at the Kenyan Championships and her ninth-place finish at the London Marathon in 2024.
