Quick hits

Kenya’s Kosgei smashes the world record in winning the Chicago Marathon

CHICAGO — Brigid Kosgei shocked the race world with what she did at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday — she had just smashed the world record by 81 seconds, is all — but she likely surprised just as many observers by what she said afterward.

“It’s amazing for me. I’ve never believed that time (was possible),” said the Kenyan, whose mark of 2 hours, 14 minutes, 4 seconds eclipsed Paula Radcliffe’s previous record of 2:15:25, set at the 2003 London Marathon, as well as Radcliffe’s course record (2:17:18) set in 2002.

Kosgei went into the race set on hitting a personal best of at least 2:15:00, but then she added, “I think it’s possible for even 2:10 (for a woman) to run if they are sure. “You must be focused in everything.” She was asked whether 2 hours, 10 minutes is now her personal objective at a future marathon.

“If it’s possible, if my body feels good at that time, I can reduce a little bit slowly.”

Marathon director Carey Pinkowski said he wasn’t surprised by Kosgei’s feat after observing her since 2017 and recalled that she said Saturday she plan to reach the halfway point in 1 hour, 8 minutes flat. She ran a second under 1 hour, 7 minutes.

“It just follows a great tradition,” he said. “This is the fifth world record that we’ve had, going back to Steve Jones . ... We haven’t had a world’s best since Paula in 2002, 17 years ago.” — Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune

Kipchoge becomes first athlete to break marathon 2-hour barrier in Vienna

VIENNA — Eliud Kipchoge became the first athlete to run a marathon faster than two hours when he posted 1 hour 59 minutes and 40.2 seconds in Vienna on Saturday.

The sub 2-hour time is an historic landmark in athletics but will not count as a world record as it was not run in open competition but on a specially designed course using 41 pacemakers.

However, Kipchoge, who holds the official marathon world record of 2:01.39 set in Berlin 2018 and was making a second attempt to go under 2 hours, compared the run to Roger Bannister breaking the 4minute mile barrier in 1954.

“I am feeling good. After Roger Bannister in 1954 it took another 63 years,” he said.

“I tried and I did not get it — 65 years, I am the first man — I want to inspire many people, that no human is limited.”

The 2016 Olympic champion ran the 1:59 Ineos Challenge over 42.195-kilometre on loops of a 9.6km course. His record run came two years after an attempt on the Italian Monza motor-racing track in 2017 when he ran 2:00.25.

Neither times are sanctioned as records by governing athletics body IAAF.

DPA, Berlin

Anquan Boldin, remembered for Super Bowl heroics, retires as a Raven

It began during a poolside conversation with Ray Lewis at the Pro Bowl. From there, Anquan Boldin knew he needed to find his way to Baltimore, where he felt certain his confident, physical style would fit perfectly with the Ravens.

He proved correct.

After the Ravens traded for Boldin in March 2010, he caught 186 passes over three seasons and saved his best work for the team’s 2012 playoff run, when he caught 22 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns over four games. On Monday, Boldin, who ranks ninth in catches and 14th in receiving yards in NFL history, retired as a Raven.

“There’s no other organization I’d say has had the impact on me and my family that this organization did,” Boldin said. “I can truly say this organization, this community, embraced us fully from day one.”

He laughed when asked about the fan outcry that persisted for years after the Ravens traded him to the San Francisco 49ers following Super Bowl XLVII.

“I was brought here to do a job,” he said. “The one thing I felt good about, leaving here, is that I helped accomplish that job.” — Childs Walker, The Baltimore Sun