The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has announced its professional fields for the 2025 event.
Many of the world’s greatest marathoners, including three of the four reigning Chicago Marathon champions, will line up to chase victory at the race’s 47th running on Sunday, October 12.
It’s one of the seven World Marathon Majors and here’s how the fields are shaping up…
Men’s elite field – Kiplimo goes again after London
Kenya’s John Korir, whose dominant 2024 victory in 2:02:44 was the second fastest time in race history, will return to defend his title. In April, Korir showed his Chicago victory was no fluke with a convincing win at the Boston Marathon.
And he has stated he hopes to run sub-2:01, a feat only accomplished by the late Kelvin Kiptum when he set the world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago in 2023.
“I am confident that I will be able to defend my title at the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon this October,” said Korir, the eighth fastest man in history. “My training is going well, and I am focused on achieving another personal best time.”
Korir will have company up front from six men who have broken 2:04. Kenya’s Timothy Kiplagat, second at last year’s Tokyo Marathon, is the second fastest man in the field with a personal best of 2:02:55. Fellow Kenyans Amos Kipruto (2:03:13), who was third in Chicago last year, and CyBrian Kotut (2:03:22), who took third in Boston, will look to replace Korir atop the podium, as will two-time Olympic marathon medalist Bashir Abdi (2:03:36) of Belgium.
Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37) of Uganda, the world record holder in the half marathon, will come to Chicago for his second career marathon start after a runner-up finish in the London Marathon this spring.
Two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworwor of Kenya makes his Chicago debut after setting a personal best of 2:04:33 with a victory in the Rotterdam Marathon in April.
And the American contingent will be led by Conner Mantz, who will attempt to break the American record of 2:05:38 set by Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. Mantz ran his personal best of 2:05:08 at the 2025 Boston Marathon, which is not record eligible.
He’ll be joined by Galen Rupp (2:06:17), the 2017 Chicago champion and third fastest American of all time, and local standout Matt Richtman (2:07:56) who won the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon.
Women’s elite field – Alemu back for more
The Chicago Marathon will welcome a new women’s winner to its history books. The field features Hawi Feysa (2:17:00), who took third at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year, making her Chicago debut. Also coming from Ethiopia is the 2023 Chicago third place finisher Megertu Alemu (2:16:34) who will be looking to claim her first victory on U.S. soil.
“I look forward to returning to the Chicago Marathon to try and improve on my previous performance there,” said Alemu, winner of the 2024 Valencia Marathon. “The course is very flat and fast; and with my good training this year; I feel that I am fit to run better this time in Chicago and move higher up on the podium.”
Other notables on the women’s side include Irine Cheptai (2:17:51) of Kenya, who was third here last year, Bedatu Hirpa (2:18:27) of Ethiopia, who earned her personal best in Dubai earlier this year, Haven Hailu Desse (2:19:17) of Ethiopia, who finished fourth in the 2025 London Marathon and Calli Hauger-Thackery (2:21:24), the second fastest British marathoner who will race Chicago for the first time. Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, the 2023 World Championships bronze medalist in the 10,000m, will make her marathon debut.
Elite wheelchair races – Both champions return
The reigning champions of the men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions, Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug, will return to defend their titles in 2025.
Debrunner will look to make it a three-peat after winning here in 2023 and 2024, while Hug will chase his fourth consecutive and sixth overall Chicago victory.
“Last year’s victory at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a huge course record meant a lot to me. 2024 was a crazy year as it was a Paralympic year. I didn’t expect that outcome at all,” said Debrunner, who won four gold medals in Paris. “This year I have the special situation of traveling directly from the World Track Championships in New Delhi to Chicago. I’m excited about this challenge!”
“Last year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon was a tough battle, only decided in the final climb and was one of the most exciting finishes I’ve ever experienced,” said Hug, who’s margin of victory was only four seconds. “With many top athletes returning to the Windy City, I’m hoping to cross the finish line first once again this year.”
