Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya overcame sweltering heat and humidity to win the first gold medal of the 2019 world athletics championships in Doha, taking out a marathon that began at midnight local time.
Chepngetich finished in 2 hours, 32 minutes, 43 seconds and crossed the finish line at 2:34 a.m. Qatar time on Saturday morning, with the race scheduled for its unusual start time in a bid to beat the heat.
But it was anything but comfortable.
When she crossed the line the temperature was 31C (88F), with 77 percent humidity and not a breath of wind.
Twenty-three of the 68 starters had dropped out by the time Chepngetich finished - a good indicator of the suffering taking place all across the 4.35 miles (7km) loop the runners ran through six times.
Defending champion Rose Chelimo, representing Bahrain, took the silver medal.
