Ruth Chepngetich and Amos Kipruto lead elite field at Chicago Marathon

A year after Kelvin Kiptum's incredible world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago, the city will pay tribute to the Kenyan marathoner, who tragically passed away earlier this year in a car accident.

Kenyan athletes, including 2019 World Marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich and Amos Kipruto, bronze medalist, will be aiming for a victory in Kiptum's honour at the Chicago Marathon this Sunday.

Kipruto faces strong competition from Ethiopia's Birhanu Legese, who ran 2:02:48 at the 2019 Berlin Marathon. Kipruto, dedicating his race to Kiptum, will also be up against fellow Kenyan Vincent Ngetich, who shares the same personal best of 2:03:13.

Chepngetich, a two-time Chicago Marathon winner, is looking to reclaim her title. She will go head-to-head with Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede, who ran a personal best of 2:15:55 at this year’s Tokyo Marathon. Kebede, like Kipruto, is motivated to run in Kiptum’s memory.

The competition in Chicago is intense, with a strong field of elite runners, including Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei, winner of the London and New York City Marathons, and fourth-place finisher in last year’s race.

The men’s race also features top athletes like Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde and Kenya’s John Korir, alongside a highly competitive American field, making this year’s race one to watch.

Elite Women's Field

1. Ruth Chepngetich, KEN, 2:14:18 (Chicago, 2022)
2. Sutume Kebede, ETH, 2:15:55 (Tokyo, 2024)
3. Joyciline Jepkosgei, KEN, 2:16:24 (London, 2024)
4. Degitu Azimeraw, ETH, 2:17:58 (London, 2021)
5. Ashete Bekere Dido, ETH, 2:17:58 (Tokyo, 2022)
6. Hiwot Gebrekidan, ETH, 2:17:59 (Valencia, 2023)
7. Irine Cheptai, KEN, 2:18:22 (Hamburg, 2024)
8. Keira D’Amato, USA, 2:19:12 (Houston, 2022)
9. Betsy Saina, USA, 2:19:17 (Tokyo, 2024)
10. Dorcas Tuitoek, KEN, 2:20:02 (Amsterdam, 2023)
11. Sara Hall, USA, 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)
12. Emma Bates, USA, 2:22:10 (Boston, 2022)
13. Buze Diriba, ETH, 2:23:11 (Toronto, 2023)
14. Sara Vaughn, USA, 2:23:24 (Chicago, 2023)
15. Susanna Sullivan, USA, 2:24:27 (London, 2023)
16. Gabi Rooker, USA, 2:24:35 (Chicago, 2023)
17. Lindsay Flanagan, USA, 2:24:43 (Gold Coast, 2022)
18. Nell Rojas, USA, 2:24:51 (Boston, 2023)
19. Stacey Ndiwa, KEN, 2:25:29 (Los Angeles, 2024)
20. Laura Thweatt, USA, 2:25:38 (London, 2017)
21. Lauren Hagans, USA, 2:25:56 (Duluth, 2023)
22. Annie Frisbie, USA, 2:26:18 (New York, 2021)
23. Jackie Gaughan, USA, 2:27:08 (Berlin, 2023)
24. Dominique Scott, RSA, 2:27:31 (Chicago, 2023)
25. Diane Nukuri, USA, 2:27:50 (London, 2015)
26. Makena Morley, USA, 2:30:25 (Los Angeles, 2024)
27. Anne Marie Blaney, USA, 2:30:43 (Orlando, 2024)
28. Andrea Pomaranski, USA, 2:31:06 (Houston, 2023)
29. Amy Davis-Green, USA, 2:33:09 (Orlando, 2024)
30. Aubrey Frentheway, USA, Debut

Elite Men's Field

1. Birhanu Legese, ETH, 2:02:48 (2019 Berlin)
2. Amos Kipruto, KEN, 2:03:13 (Tokyo, 2022)
3. Vincent Ngetich, KEN, 2:03:13 (Berlin, 2023)
4. Dawit Wolde, ETH, 2:03:48 (Valencia, 2023)
5. Amdework Walelegn, ETH, 2:04:50 (Rotterdam, 2024)
6. John Korir, KEN, 2:05:01 (Chicago, 2022)
7. Huseydin Mohamed Esa, ETH, 2:05:05 (Amsterdam, 2022)
8. Jemal Yimer, ETH, 2:06:08 (Seoul, 2024)
9. Kyohei Hosoya, JPN, 2:06:35
10. Toshiki Sadakata, JPN, 2:07:05
11. Tatsuya Maruyama, JPN, 2:07:50 (Berlin, 2022)
12. Yuichi Yasui, JPN, 2:08:48 (Beppu, 2023)
13. Jorge Castelblanco, PAN, 2:09:24 (Seville, 2024)
14. Zach Panning, USA, 2:09:28 (Chicago, 2022)
15. Brian Shrader, USA, 2:09:46 (Chicago, 2023)
16. CJ Albertson, USA, 2:09:53 (Boston, 2024)
17. Tomoki Yoshioka, JPN, 2:10:03 (Beppu, 2024)
18. Reed Fischer, USA, 2:10:34 (Boston, 2022)
19. Nathan Martin, USA, 2:10:45 (Duluth, 2023)
20. Colin Mickow, USA, 2:11:22 (Chandler, 2020)
21. Kevin Salvano, USA, 2:11:26 (Chicago, 2023)
22. Jacob Thomson, USA, 2:11:40 (Gold Coast, 2023)
23. Turner Wiley, USA, 2:11:59 (Chicago, 2022)
24. JP Flavin, USA, 2:13:27 (Boston, 2023)
25. Charlie Sweeney, USA, 2:13:41 (Sacramento, 2023)
26. Ben Kendell, USA, 2:15:49 (Sacramento, 2022)
27. Phil Migas, CAN, 2:15:53 (Hamburg, 2024)
28. Daniel Ebenyo, KEN, Debut
29. Alex Maier, USA, Debut
30. Isai Rodriguez, USA, Debut