Amos Kipruto produced a superbly controlled performance to win the Chicago Marathon in 2:01:09, while Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa successfully defended her women’s title after a gripping contest with Sharon Lokedi.
Kenya’s Kipruto broke clear of defending champion Jacob Kiplimo between 30km and 35km before securing victory by 1:47 over Tadese Takele Bikila. Milkesa Mengesha completed the podium as Kiplimo faded to fourth.
The women’s outcome remained in doubt for considerably longer. Feysa and Lokedi were level at 40km, but the Ethiopian found the stronger finish to win in 2:13:33, with Lokedi 34 seconds behind and Brigid Kosgei third.
Both races delivered compelling battles on Chicago’s famously fast streets, with Kipruto finishing just 34 seconds outside Kelvin Kiptum’s course record at the penultimate event of the seven-race Abbott World Marathon Majors calendar.
Women’s race – Feysa settles duel in closing kilometres
Feysa was prominent from the outset, leading through 5km in 15:36 with six rivals just one second behind.
By 10km, she and Kosgei had opened a small advantage. Feysa crossed in 31:04, with the Kenyan one second back and a chasing quartet containing Lokedi and Loice Chemnung nine seconds behind.
That separation proved temporary. Lokedi and Chemnung gradually closed the gap, and four women reached halfway within a second of one another, Lokedi listed first in 1:06:06.
The same four remained together at 25km, but the contest began to change over the next five kilometres. Lokedi and Feysa reached 30km in 1:34:16, with Kosgei now 11 seconds behind and Chemnung a further 30 seconds back.
Feysa and Lokedi continued their duel through 35km, separated by just one second, while Kosgei’s deficit grew to 38 seconds. At 40km, there was still nothing between the leaders: both recorded 2:06:43, leaving the final 2.195km to decide the title.
Feysa then made the difference. She kicked inside the final mile and quickly put the race to bed, covering that closing stretch in 6:50 to win in 2:13:33, improving on her winning time from last year by 1:24.
Lokedi finished second in 2:14:07, with two-time Chicago winner Kosgei completing the podium in 2:14:55.
Mary Ngugi-Cooper worked her way up from seventh at halfway to finish fourth in 2:17:23, ahead of Joan Jepkosgei Kilimo in 2:18:39.
Australia’s Isobel Batt-Doyle was sixth, while Emma Grace Hurley marked her marathon debut by finishing seventh in 2:20:47 as the leading American. Chemnung, who had been part of the leading quartet through 25km, ultimately finished tenth.
Men’s race – Kipruto breaks Kiplimo to take the crown
The men’s race began at an exceptionally consistent pace, with six runners quickly separating themselves from the rest.
Kipruto, Kiplimo, Daniel Mateiko, Bikila, Mengesha and Boki Diriba remained within a second through the opening three checkpoints, then all recorded 57:13 at 20km and 1:00:21 at halfway.
An acceleration after 20km began to stretch the group. Kiplimo and Mateiko covered 20–25km in 14:06 to reach 25km in 1:11:19, with Kipruto and Bikila one second behind. Mengesha had slipped 12 seconds back and Diriba 15.
By 30km, Kipruto and Kiplimo had separated themselves at the front. Both crossed in 1:25:28, still inside course-record pace, with Mateiko and Bikila together 16 seconds behind.
Kipruto then established the decisive advantage. His 14:30 split for 30–35km put him 12 seconds clear of Kiplimo, and he maintained his rhythm with another 14:33 segment to reach 40km in 1:54:31.
Behind him, the podium battle changed dramatically. Kiplimo slowed to 16:32 for 35–40km, allowing Bikila to move into second, while Mengesha overtook Mateiko for fourth.
Kipruto completed the final stretch in 6:38 to win in 2:01:09, improving his personal best by 30 seconds. After finishing third and second at the previous two editions, he finally claimed the top step in Chicago.
Bikila finished second in 2:02:56, while Mengesha passed Kiplimo in the closing kilometres to secure third in 2:03:46.
The defending champion crossed fourth in 2:04:18. Diriba and Mateiko both recorded 2:05:01, with Diriba awarded fifth.
Clayton Young was the leading American in seventh with 2:05:23, followed by Charles Hicks in 2:05:35. Japan’s Akira Akasaki and American Vincent Mauri completed the top ten.
Chicago Marathon 2026 results
Sunday 11 October 2026, 26.2 miles / 42.195 kilometres
WOMEN:
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Gap to winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawi Feysa | ETH | 2:13:33 | — |
| 2 | Sharon Lokedi | KEN | 2:14:07 | +0:34 |
| 3 | Brigid Kosgei | KEN | 2:14:55 | +1:22 |
| 4 | Mary Ngugi-Cooper | KEN | 2:17:23 | +3:50 |
| 5 | Joan Jepkosgei Kilimo | KEN | 2:18:39 | +5:06 |
| 6 | Isobel Batt-Doyle | AUS | 2:20:38 | +7:05 |
| 7 | Emma Grace Hurley | USA | 2:20:47 | +7:14 |
| 8 | Degitu Azimeraw | ETH | 2:20:59 | +7:26 |
| 9 | Magdalyne Masai | KEN | 2:21:11 | +7:38 |
| 10 | Loice Chemnung | KEN | 2:21:18 | +7:45 |
MEN:
| Position | Athlete | Nationality | Time | Gap to winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amos Kipruto | KEN | 2:01:09 | — |
| 2 | Tadese Takele Bikila | ETH | 2:02:56 | +1:47 |
| 3 | Milkesa Mengesha | ETH | 2:03:46 | +2:37 |
| 4 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | 2:04:18 | +3:09 |
| 5 | Boki Diriba | ETH | 2:05:01 | +3:52 |
| 6 | Daniel Mateiko | KEN | 2:05:01 | +3:52 |
| 7 | Clayton Young | USA | 2:05:23 | +4:14 |
| 8 | Charles Hicks | USA | 2:05:35 | +4:26 |
| 9 | Akira Akasaki | JPN | 2:05:47 | +4:38 |
| 10 | Vincent Mauri | USA | 2:06:45 | +5:36 |
