Five things you need to know about the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

There will be record-breaking attempts and new winners at this weekend’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Who are the athletes to look out for?

Can anyone catch Korir?

John Korir is aiming to run this year’s fastest time just three weeks after Sabastian Sawe set the mark when he ran 2:02:16 in Berlin.

Korir is the headline act at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which he won last year in 2:02:44, the eighth quickest time in history.

He backed that up in Boston in the spring when he powered home to win his second Abbott World Marathon Major.

The 28 year old Kenyan has stated he wants to run sub-2:01 but whether he can join the late Kelvin Kiptum, who ran 2:00:35 to win here two years ago, might depend on those pushing him.

While Sawe left the competition and pacemakers in his wake with almost eight miles to go, Korir will be chased all the way in his bid to retain his title by a decorated field.

Kenyan Timothy Kiplagat is the 10th fastest man in history after clocking 2:02:55 to finish second in Tokyo last year while fellow compatriot Amos Kipruto won London in 2022 and has finished runner-up in Tokyo and Berlin.

Another Kenyan, Geoffrey Kamworor, is a two-time TCS New York City Marathon winner and fellow countryman CyBrian Kotut finished on the podium in his last two Majors.

Belgium’s Bashir Abdi won medals at the last two Olympics and Ethiopia’s Huseydin Mohamed should not be discounted having finished runner-up in his last three Majors.

How high Jacob Kiplimo’s ceiling could be is anyone’s guess after he clocked 2:03:37 on his marathon debut in London to finish just 10 seconds behind Sawe.

Mantz on a mission

Conner Mantz is on a mission to break the American record in the marathon and he believes his best chance is to do it in Chicago.

“I want to get the American record,” he said. “I’m well prepared. On the right day, you can do something pretty special in Chicago.”

At this year’s Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America, Mantz showed he is capable of bettering Khalid Khannouci’s 23-year-old record of 2:05:38. There, he finished fourth in 2:05:08 on the challenging, but not record-eligible, course.

In January of this year, Mantz broke Ryan Hall’s 18-year-old American record in the half marathon with a 59:17 finish in Houston, and he’s been unstoppable ever since.

He bettered his time by two seconds at the New York City Half Marathon, and after Boston, he won the BOLDERBoulder 10K and the Beach to Beacon 10K.

Mantz’s last Chicago appearance came in 2023 when he finished 6^th in 2:07:47. Mantz was the top American in the 2024 Paris Olympic Marathon, finishing in eighth.

New name in Chicago

There will be a new women’s champion in Chicago although who will break the tape on Sunday is hard to predict.

Ethiopian pair Megertu Alemu and Hawi Feysa are the two fastest runners in the field, having clocked 2:16:34 and 2:17:00 in London and Tokyo respectively.

Both have enjoyed big wins before, with Alemu winning Valencia and Feysa in Frankfurt, but neither won a Major win just yet.

Irine Cheptai finished third in Chicago last year and should be in the shake up while Bedatu Herpa has won four out of five marathons since the start of last year with a best of 2:18:27.

Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye will make her much anticipated marathon debut having run 1:04:14 in her first half marathon in Valencia last year – the eighth quickest in history.

Five in a row for Marcel Hug?

Swiss athlete Marcel Hug has been the dominant force in wheelchair racing and is the overwhelming favourite to make it a fifth Major win in succession having cruised home in Boston, London, Sydney and Berlin already this year.

Home support will be for Aaron Pike, who is a multiple podium finisher in Majors, while Great Britain’s Johnboy Smith has twice finished fourth in Chicago.

The women’s race features a stellar cast with Catherine Debrunner, Susannah Scaroni and Manuela Schär, who finished first, second and third respectively in London, set to renew their rivalry on Sunday.

Eden Rainbow-Cooper, at 24, is the young pretender of the field and has already won Boston and finished fourth in Chicago last year.

Six Star finishers

One hundred and fifty runners will complete their Six Star journey on Sunday, taking the 2025 total to 5,149.

In Chicago, five runners will be picking up their second Six Star Medal.

The runners represent 42 nations, with Britain boasting 27 finishers, four more than the USA.

One runner will also be celebrating his birthday.

In total, 22,686 runners have completed their Six Star journey.