CHICAGO — Kenya’s Amos Kipruto surged to his first Chicago Marathon victory and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa Gejia defended her women’s crown on Sunday as thousands of competitors tackled the flat 26.2-mile course through the city’s streets.
Kipruto crossed the finish line in Grant Park in two hours, one minute and nine seconds, putting together a commanding performance after podium finishes in the previous two editions of the race. Tadese Bikila of Ethiopia secured second place nearly two minutes later in 2:02:56, Yahoo Sports reported.
The men’s competition delivered intense drama in the late stages. Kipruto spent much of the route in a tight battle against defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, according to NBC Chicago. Kipruto managed to break away down the stretch, while Kiplimo faded to a fourth-place finish.
“I was here to fight for the podium,” Kipruto said after the race, as reported by NBC Chicago. “Everything is all about that mindset … I set my mind on it.”
The triumph marked a long-awaited summit for Kipruto in Chicago. He placed third in 2024 and was runner-up in 2025, in addition to finishing fourth at the London Marathon earlier this year with a time of 2:01:39, Yahoo Sports reported.
Feysa Repeats as Women’s Champion
In the women’s division, Feysa made it back-to-back Chicago titles by crossing the finish line in 2:13:33. Her performance shaved more than a minute off her winning time from 2025, when she clocked 2:14:57, Bleacher Report reported.
Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi stayed close behind, taking second place in 2:14:07. Feysa shook off the remaining challengers in the closing minutes of the competition, according to NBC Chicago.
“After winning this year, to come back, I just want to thank God,” Feysa said through an interpreter, per NBC Chicago. “I’m elated to have my second time.”
Record Performances for Americans and Wheelchair Racers
American competitors also recorded standout moments across both divisions on Sunday. Clayton Young finished as the top U.S. male runner, placing seventh overall in 2:05:23 despite competing with a torn hamstring, Yahoo Sports reported. Fellow Americans Charles Hicks and Vincent Mauri finished shortly behind him. Mauri had led the American pack for much of the morning before cramping near the end, according to Yahoo Sports.
On the women’s side, Emma Grace Hurley set an American record for the fastest debut marathon by a U.S. woman, Yahoo Sports reported. Hurley took seventh overall with a time of 2:20:47, making her the lone American woman to place inside the top 10.
The wheelchair divisions produced historic milestones for Swiss athletes. Catherine Debrunner won the women’s wheelchair division while breaking her own world record, according to Yahoo Sports. In the men’s wheelchair contest, her compatriot Marcel Hug established a new course record while securing his fifth consecutive Chicago Marathon victory.
Official rankings and final times for tens of thousands of open-division participants continue to be finalized following the conclusion of the 48th running of the event.
