Hundreds of marathoners have flocked to the Windy Metropolis for what guarantees to be an emotional 2024 Chicago Marathon. Only a yr in the past, Kelvin Kiptum shocked the world by working the quickest marathon in historical past, clocking 2:00:35. Tragically, the 24-year-old died in a automotive accident 4 months later, alongside his coach, Gervais Hakizimana.
To honour Kiptum, there can be a second of silence on the beginning line, and all 50,000 members will put on memorial stickers on their bibs. The boys’s elite runners will purpose to push the bounds on Chicago’s famously quick and flat course, chasing Kiptum’s historic mark.
Who’s subsequent?
The boys’s elite subject could lack some massive names, however 33 runners will try and inch nearer to Kiptum’s file. Main the cost is Ethiopia’s Birhanu Legese, who boasts a blistering private finest of two:02:48 from the 2019 Berlin Marathon. Nevertheless, Legese hasn’t replicated that sub-2:03 efficiency since. Amos Kipruto and Vincent Ngetich of Kenya look to problem Legese, each desirous to observe in Kiptum’s footsteps. Kipruto, the 2022 London Marathon champion, is trying to rebound from a disappointing 2023 season that noticed him drop out of London and end seventh in Berlin. Although Chicago’s course doesn’t essentially favour his tactical working fashion, if the race comes right down to a detailed end, Kipruto might be robust to beat.
Ngetich, who trains alongside Kipruto with 2 Working Membership in Kenya, is chasing his first World Marathon Main victory. He posted a private finest of two:03:13 final yr in Berlin and can be one to observe. One other thrilling prospect is Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo, a standout on the observe with a significant championship medal and Diamond League title in 10,000m. Ebenyo additionally received silver on the 2023 World Street Working Championships in Riga, Latvia over the half marathon distance. Along with his unbelievable velocity and expertise, Chicago may mark Ebenyo’s breakout within the marathon scene, and a sub-2:05 debut isn’t out of the query.
On the American entrance, CJ Albertson leads the cost, having narrowly missed a spot on the 2024 U.S. Olympic crew by inserting fourth on the trials. The opposite American marathoners within the subject are Zach Panning, Brian Shrader and Reed Fischer.
Canada’s sole consultant within the elite males’s subject is Phil Parrot-Migas from London, Ont. Parrot-Migas set a private finest of two:15:53 earlier this yr on the 2024 Hamburg Marathon and can hope to enhance on the mark in Chicago.
Ruth Chepngetich chases three
In the case of Chicago, Ruth Chepngetich has been nothing in need of dominant over the past 5 years. The Kenyan has received the marathon twice, in 2021 and 2022, and completed runner-up to newly-minted Olympic champion Sifan Hassan in 2023. Given her expertise and success on this course, it will be shocking to not see the fourth-fastest lady in historical past battling for the win once more on Sunday. Difficult her can be 2024 Tokyo Marathon champion, Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia. Kebede received Tokyo with a world-leading time of two:15:55, which stays the quickest marathon time of the yr. After a Fifteenth-place end in Chicago final fall, she can be aiming to enhance and safe her second main marathon victory of 2024.
Additionally in rivalry is Joyciline Jepkosgei, who completed fourth in Chicago final yr and set a private finest of two:16:24 on the 2024 London Marathon. The 30-year-old Kenyan brings a wealth of expertise with this race being the tenth marathon of her profession. She’ll be joined by fellow sub-2:18 runners from Ethiopia: Degitu Azimeraw, Hiwot Gebrekidan and 2019 Berlin Marathon champion Ashete Bekere.
On the American facet, Keira D’Amato and Betsy Saina will look to interrupt the host nation’s lengthy drought. The final American lady to win in Chicago was Deena Kastor in 2005. D’Amato, who now trains in Utah below U.S. marathon coach Ed Eyestone, may threaten Emily Sisson’s American file of two:18:29, set on the 2022 Chicago Marathon. With a stacked U.S. girls’s subject, anticipate some fireworks on the shores of Lake Michigan.Â
There are not any Canadian girls on this yr’s elite subject.
The way to watch
To observe the 2024 Financial institution of America Chicago Marathon reside, you possibly can tune into one of many a number of reside streaming choices: NBC 5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago or FloTrack (with subscription): These streams will present full reside protection of the marathon from 8 a.m. to midday. ET.
