Champions head stacked Chicago field

Returning Bank of America Chicago Marathon champions Jacob Kiplimo and Hawi Feysa will defend their titles against one of the deepest fields in race history on Sunday October 11.

Kiplimo returns after running 2:02:23 to win last year's Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the second-fastest performance in race history. Since then, the Ugandan has further cemented his place among the world's greatest distance runners.

His 2:00:28 third-place finish at the 2026 TCS London Marathon ranks as the third-fastest marathon ever, and earlier this year he broke the world half marathon record with a stunning 57:20 victory in Lisbon. Kiplimo opened 2026 by claiming his third consecutive World Cross Country title at the World Cross Country championships in Tallahassee.

Kiplimo will face the same challengers who joined him on last year's podium. Kenya's Amos Kipruto returns after consecutive podium finishes in Chicago, placing third in 2024 and second in 2025.

The 2022 London Marathon champion enters in top form after finishing one spot behind Kiplimo in London this year with a personal best of 2:01:29. Fellow Kenyan Alex Masai also returns after placing third last year.

The international field also includes 2024 Berlin Marathon champion Milkesa Mengesha (ETH), and back-to-back Tokyo Marathon champion Tedese Takele Bikila (ETH). In total, six men in the field have broken 2:04.

Charles Hicks headlines a strong American contingent. His 2:04:35 at the 2026 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is the second-fastest marathon ever run by an American.

On the women's side, Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa returns to defend the title she won in commanding fashion last year, crossing the line more than two minutes ahead of the field.

While her 2026 season has been quieter, highlighted by a second consecutive third-place finish at the Tokyo Marathon, she knows another victory won't come easily.

Among her biggest challengers is a familiar face on the Chicago streets: Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, former world record holder and two-time Chicago champion. Fresh off her victory at this year's Tokyo Marathon, Kosgei returns to Chicago for the first time since her dominant 2019 victory.

Joining her is fellow Kenyan Sharon Lokedi, one of the sport's premier marathoners after wins at the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon and 2025 and 2026 Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. She will make her Chicago debut and race a flat Majors course for the first time.

Ethiopia's Sutume Kebede and Megertu Alemu also return aiming to build on consistent performances on the streets of Chicago and compete for the win.

Leading the American woman are Susanna Sullivan and 2025 top American Natosha Rogers. Both Sullivan and Rogers have history in Chicago, setting their personal bests here in 2025 and 2024 respectively.

In the men’s wheelchair division, Marcel Hug will look to continue his historic Chicago victory streak. The Swiss Silver Bullet is a six-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon Champion including the last four editions of the event.

Hug will face Daniel Romanchuk (USA), the only other man to win Chicago’s wheelchair division in the past ten years. Romanchuk last won in 2021 and has victories in 2018 and 2019 as well. Aaron Pike (USA), who has 15 top 10 finishes in Chicago, and David Weir (GBR), winner in Cape Town in May, will also return this year.

While defending women’s wheelchair champion Susannah Scaroni is taking this year off to welcome her first child, the other three women who have won the division since 2015 will return. That includes nine-time champion Tatyana McFadden (USA) and two-time champions Manuela Schär (SUI) and Catherine Debrunner (SUI). Boston winner Eden Rainbow-Cooper will also be in contention.