Kenyan marathoners (from left) Timothy Kiplagat, John Korir, Cyprian Kotut and Amos Kipruto.
A fierce battle is expected to play out when some of the finest athletes in distance running in the world led by a horde of Kenyans go head-to-head at the Chicago Marathon in the USA today.
Racing begins at 3.20pm Kenyan time.
The prestigious Abbott Marathon Majors race that is the sixth in the calendar, is renowned for its fast course and close attention will also be on the winning times posted.
The men’s elite race could be a Kenyan affair with the four fastest runners all coming from the East African country.
Six Kenyans also make the top 10 list in terms of best times posted.
The hot favourite is no doubt the defending champion and fastest man in the field Kenya’s John Korir.
In fact, Korir won last year’s race in a blistering personal best time of 2:02:44, that was the second fastest time run on the Chicago course.
That time is also the eighth fastest in history.
The 28-year-old Korir has one title in this year’s Majors tacked under his arms having won the Boston Marathon on April 21.
Kenya's John Korir crosses the finish line to win the men's elite race at the 129th Boston Marathon on April 21, 2025.
After winning in Chicago last year, Korir, who trains in Uasin Gishu and Trans Nzoia, dedicated the crown to the late Kelvin Kiptum, who broke the world record on that very course with a mind boggling 2:00:35.
Kenya’s Timothy Kiplagat is the second fastest man in the field with a personal best time of 2:02:55 followed by Amos Kipruto on 2:03:13 and Cyprian Kotut on 2:03:22.
Other Kenyans in the hunt include Philemon Kiplimo (2:04:01), Geoffrey Kamworor (2:04:23), who has publicly declared he will be attacking his personal best time, and Daniel Ebenyo Simiu (2:06:04).
But even as the sibling contest plays out, the Kenyans must be aware of the potent threat of dangerous Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo who posted an impressive 2:03:37 to finish second in this years’ London Marathon, in his first competitive outing over the distance.
There was no shame for the Uganda then as the winner of the race was Sabastian Sawe, the fifth fastest man in the history of the marathon.
Also watch out for Belgian Bashir Abdi who holds a personal best time of 2:03:36, the only Ethiopian entry Huseydin Mohamed Esa (2:04:39) and local boy Galen Rupp (2:06:07).
“I feel good. I just want to run my race and defend my title,” Korir said in Kenya last week as he concluded his preparations.
Kotut said he was relishing making his debut in Chicago.
Kotut, who trains at the 2Running Athletics Club in Kapsabet, Nandi County, said his back-to-back podium finishes in the Marathon Majors has given him confidence to face any field.
In September last year, Kotut finished an impressive second at the Berlin Marathon, clocking his personal best.
Geoffrey Kamworor.
The women’s field is dominated by Ethiopians.
Megertu Alemu is the fastest in the field with a time of 2:16;34 followed by Hawu Feysa (2:17;00), Bedatu Hirpa (2:18:27 and Haven Desse (2:19;17). The fastest Kenya, Mary Ngugi, lies fifth with a PB of 2:20:22.
Ngugi finished second in the 2021 Boston Marathon and will surely have to produce a fantastic time to upstage the Ethiopians.
The only other Kenyan in the elite women’s field is Loice Chemnung who is debuting in the distance. Kenya’s Irene Cheptai withdrew injured.
“I have raced many Boston Marathons and we learn from races and coming to a fast course like Chicago I know I will be able to run a good race… It gives me a chance to run faster because it’s a fast course,” said Ngugi in Chicago yesterday.
Winners in the elite men’s and women’s categories will pocket Sh12,914,218 ($100,000) each with the second placed finishers going home with Sh9,685,664 ($75,000) and third placed runners Sh6,457,109 ($50,000).
The fourth and fifth placed finishers will pocket Sh3,874,265 ($30,000) and Sh3,228,554 ($25,000) respectively.
There is also a bonus of Sh6,457,109 ($50,000) for breaking the course record.
But wait for this, the course records stands at 2:00:35 which is also the world record set by the late Kiptum in 2023.
The same amount will be paid to the athlete who breaks the women’s course record of 2:09:56 that is also the world record set by Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich last year.
