Photo credit: Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris.
DeBrunner smashes world record, Feysa defends title and Hurley sets the American debut record
CHICAGO, IL – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon celebrated its 48th running Sunday as more than 54,000 participants made their way through 29 Chicago neighborhoods. Amos Kipruto (KEN) battled to the front in the men’s competition, breaking the tape in the second fastest time ever on U.S. soil, 2:01:09, while Hawi Feysa (ETH) defended her title, capturing the women’s crown in 2:13:33, making her the fourth fastest woman in history. Emma Grace Hurley (USA) dazzled in her first marathon, breaking the American debut record with a 2:20:47 while Clayton Young (USA) became the second fastest American man ever, running 2:05:23.
In the professional wheelchair competitions, Catherine DeBrunner (SUI) won her third Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a world record, 1:33:16. DeBrunner’s world record marks the first wheelchair world record ever set in Chicago, fortifying the city’s reputation as a place to set records. Marcel Hug (SUI) claimed his seventh victory in a course record, 1:21:34.
“We saw some tremendous racing today, with the world’s best athletes pushing each other to records and fast finishes all the way to Grant Park,” said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director, Bank of America Chicago Marathon. “That excitement carried through the entire field. Whether you’re competing for a title, coming back for another finish, running your first marathon or supporting a charity, Chicago gets behind you. The crowds, the neighborhoods, the energy: you couldn’t ask for a better setting for a day of racing.”
The men’s race brought together defending champion Jacob Kiplimo (UGA), 2025 runner-up Kipruto (KEN) and a deep international field ready to chase history. A trio of Americans, Charles Hicks, Clayton Young and Vincent Mauri, also lined up with their sights set on Conner Mantz’s 2:04:43 American record.
The men’s field took flight immediately on pace to break the late Kelvin Kiptum’s course record of 2:00:35.
Surrounded by a contingent of pacers, the lead pack of six men, including Kiplimo and Kipruto, settled in to pursue the record books. The pack ran stride-for-stride through the halfway mark in 1:00:21, but by 25K, it was down to a four-man footrace.
In the end, the men’s race transformed into an exciting dual between the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and the runner-up. Kiplimo and Kipruto exchanged the lead multiple times before Kipruto finally made a decisive move after Mile 21, pulling away from Kiplimo and writing his name in the record books as the 2026 Chicago Marathon champion.
Kipruto crossed the finish line first in a swift 2:01:09, coming within striking distance of the course record. Tadese Bikila (ETH) finished second in 2:02:56, followed by Milkesa Mengesha (ETH) in 2:03:46. Defending champion Kiplimo held on for fourth.
“I was ready because this was my third Chicago,” said Kipruto. “In 2024, I became position three. I came again in 2025 and I became position two, and today, this was 2026 and I was ready…. You know, running a marathon, it’s all about the mindset, and when the mindset is ready to go, the body will follow.”
The American men’s race lived up to its pre-race hype with Mauri stepping up his pace, flying through at an American record clip. Young and Hicks stayed in the hunt, eventually catching Mauri by Mile 22. Young prevailed in a personal best, 2:05:23, with Hicks not far behind in 2:05:35. Mauri, despite cramping late in the race, hung on for third in 2:06:45. Galen Rupp followed 10 seconds later, besting the American Master’s Record by more than three minutes in 2:06:55.
The women’s open competition featured defending champion Feysa, returning two-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei (KEN) and Sharon Lokedi (KEN), the two-time Boston Marathon champion and 2022 New York City Marathon winner making her Chicago debut.
Similar to the men’s race, the women’s race set out at a blistering pace, with just Feysa and Kosgei bravely following the pacers. Lokedi, running her first flat and fast marathon, stayed back and conserved energy. Her patience paid off; 20K into the race, Lokedi caught Kosgei and Feysa. The women remained on an incredible 2:12 pace through the half.
By 30K, the women’s race came down to a contest between Feysa and Lokedi. While Lokedi looked like she might have an extra gear, Feysa responded with another one, breaking away with one mile to go. Feysa defended her title in 2:13:33 and Lokedi locked in for second in 2:14:07. With Kosgei’s third place finish in 2:14:55, all three women logged times that put them in the top five women’s performances in race history.
“It’s a very hard fought battle in the later stages of the race,” said Feysa. “But around 35K, I was pretty confident I was going to win, despite the challenges, and it means everything to come here and win again.”
Hurley, the 8K American record holder and 2026 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle champion, took command among the Americans, setting out near American record pace the first 5K. Running with her pacer through 20 miles, Hurley dug deep to smash the American debut record, finishing seventh overall in 2:20:47. U.S. Olympian Dakotah Popehn followed as the second American in a personal best, 2:24:00, and Elena Heyday finished as third American in 2:24:57.
Chicago also provided an opportunity for American athletes to pursue the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon qualifying standards. Ten American men ran 2:16:00 or faster and 12 American women ran 2:37:00 or faster for a total of 22 athletes meeting the time standards.
The women’s wheelchair race featured nine-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Tatyana McFadden (USA), two-time Chicago Marathon champion Manuela Schär (SUI) and two-time Chicago Marathon champion and world record holder Catherine Debrunner (SUI). DeBrunner took an early lead and ran completely uncontested to the finish, bringing Chicago its first world record in the wheelchair competition. DeBrunner eclipsed her own world record by 60 seconds to finish in 1:33:16. McFadden and Schär raced each other to a photo finish in 1:42:01, with McFadden taking second and Schär third.
“I did not expect to break the women’s record here because it’s quite a technical course for us,” said DeBrunner. “But I felt great this morning at the start line. It was amazing weather and the crowd was amazing as well. I heard people from the beginning until the end.”
In the men’s wheelchair competition, six-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and world record holder Marcel Hug returned seeking another victory. Despite an early charge from David Weir (GBR), the race turned into a battle between Hug and his course record. Hug, widely known as the “Silver Bullet,” raced against the clock to set a new course record in 1:21:24. Lito Anker (NED) and Weir followed nearly nine minutes behind in 1:30:11, with Anker second and Weir third.
“I was surprised I was in the front so early,” said Hug. “I knew I was a little bit ahead of the course record – just a few seconds. So there was a lot of pressure and it’s a challenge to manage it, but I have a lot of experience now.”
Winter Parts (USA) once again took first in the non-binary division with a 2:28:16.
Supporting American Athletes: 2027 USATF Marathon Championships
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will host the 2027 USATF Marathon Championships on Sunday, October 10, continuing the event’s long tradition of supporting American distance runners and providing opportunities to compete against the world’s best.
The championships will feature 20 American men and 20 American women competing for national titles, with prize money awarded through 10th place in both competitions. The Marathon will also expand its High Performance Program to 300 participants, providing additional opportunities for American athletes pursuing the qualifying standards for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon.
Abbott Chicago 5K
The Abbott Chicago 5K took place Saturday, October 10, bringing more than 10,000 runners to the streets of downtown Chicago ahead of the marathon on Sunday.
Daniel Docherty finished first in 15:19, followed by Sam McCool in 15:36 and Samuel Blake in third in 15:44. Abby Kohut-Jackson won the women’s race in 16:50, with Marina Trave Ferrer finishing second in 17:33 and Kaitlyn Trombatore taking third in 17:53.
2027 Marathon Applications and Chicago Distance Series Registration Now Open
Applications for guaranteed and non-guaranteed entries to the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon are now open. Runners have until 2 p.m. (U.S. Central Time) on Thursday, October 29, to apply for the event’s 49th running on Sunday, October 10, 2027.
Registration is also open for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K Run on Sunday, March 21, 2027, and the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 on Sunday, June 6, 2027. Together with the Marathon, these events will make up the fifth annual Bank of America Chicago Distance Series.
Participants who finish all three 2027 events will receive an exclusive Bank of America Chicago Distance Series medal and guaranteed entry into the 50th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2028. For registration information, visit chicagomarathon.com.
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 49th running on Sunday, October 10, 2027, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome thousands of participants from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class professional athlete field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut marathoners and charity participants. The race’s iconic course takes participants through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. Annually, more than a million spectators line the streets cheering on tens of thousands of participants from the start line to the final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race’s national and international draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating approximately $756 million in annual economic impact to its host city. The 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 10. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 7, Friday, October 8, and Saturday, October 9. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to chicagomarathon.com.