The 48th Chicago Marathon is set to take place on Sunday, with over 55,000 runners competing in the 26.2-mile event. Defending champions Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda and Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia will be looking to repeat their wins from last year. Kiplimo won the marathon in 2hrs 2mins 23secs in his second start at the distance, while Feysa took the women's title in 2:14:57.
Kiplimo, who has been in impressive form, is looking to build on his success from last year. He added a podium finish in April at the London Marathon, where Kenya's Sabastian Sawe won in a world-record 1:59:30. Kiplimo's performance made him the third-fastest in marathon history, and he will be the man to beat in Chicago. He also won the Lisbon Half-Marathon in March in a world-record 57:20.
Kiplimo's main competitor will be Kenya's Amos Kipruto, the 2022 London winner who was fourth this year in London, 71 seconds behind Kiplimo. Kipruto finished second last year and third in 2024, and is looking to claim his first Chicago title. He believes that this year's competition is a huge step for him, and he is determined to make the most of it.
On the women's side, Feysa is confident that she is in better shape than she was last year. She faces strong competition from Kenya's Brigid Kosgei, who won last year's Shanghai Marathon in a course-record 2:16:36 and took this year's Tokyo title in a course-record 2:14:29. Kosgei is a two-time winner in London, Tokyo, and Chicago, and set a then-world record of 2:14:04 in 2019.
Ethiopia's Milkesa Mengesha, the 2024 Berlin Marathon and 2025 Shanghai Marathon champion, will make his Chicago debut with the third-fastest entry time from his 2:03:17 triumph in Germany. He is looking to run his personal best and is excited about the opportunity to compete in Chicago. Mengesha believes that the fast course and favorable conditions make it an ideal place to achieve his goal.
The Chicago Marathon has a reputation for producing fast times, and this year's competition is expected to be no exception. The course has seen several world records fall in the past, and the weather conditions are expected to be favorable. The event will feature a world-class field, with many top athletes vying for the top spot.
The marathon will take place on Sunday, with the elite athletes competing for the top spot and a chance to break the course record. With a strong field and favorable conditions, the competition is expected to be fierce. The event will be a major test for the athletes, and the winner will be crowned the champion of the 48th Chicago Marathon.
Key points
- Jacob Kiplimo and Hawi Feysa are the defending champions of the Chicago Marathon.
- The 48th Chicago Marathon will feature a world-class field of over 55,000 runners.
- The course has a reputation for producing fast times and could see a new world record if conditions are favorable.
