Fast Racing Will be on Display at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is one of the best races in the world. I have attended most of the past 34 years of Chicago Marathons. Each one has its own story, its own drama, and its own heroes. 

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Fast Racing Will be on Display at the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

CHICAGO – The professional athlete field for the 46th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon was announced today. It features two of the top 10 fastest women of all time, two of the world’s most exciting marathon stars racing in the United States for the first time, and both defending champions in the wheelchair field.

“We are accustomed to making history at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “With some of the fastest athletes in the world joining us this fall, we are hopeful to build on the tradition of great performances this year.”

This year’s fastest women’s marathoner, Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia, leads the women’s field. Her 2:15:55 victory in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon makes her the eighth fastest woman ever. That performance came just two months after Kebede set the record for the fastest half marathon ever completed in the United States at the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in January, with her winning time of 1:04:37.

“I am thrilled to come back to Chicago and run on a course that has proven to be very fast,” said Kebede, who had a disappointing finish in the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. “After seeing what my teammate Kelvin Kiptum did last year, I want to come to Chicago to do something great.”

Kebede is part of a training group that once included the late Kelvin Kiptum. Kiptum was killed in a car crash this past February, just four months after setting the marathon world record at the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Kebede will face the fourth fastest woman in history, Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya. Chepngetich, the 2021 and 2022 Chicago champion, was runner-up here last year. Also among the top contenders is fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei, a TCS London and TCS New York City Marathon Champion who was fourth in the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

The second and third fastest American women of all time will join the three East African stars on the start line. Former American marathon record holder Keira D’Amato, who has been on the broadcast team for two years, will return to the start line this year. Betsy Saina, who placed fifth in this year’s Tokyo Marathon, will look to record her first Chicago finish after dropping out of the race in 2019 due to illness.

“I have a special history with the Chicago Marathon,” said D’Amato, who finished fourth in 2021. “The past two years, I’ve run my mouth in the lead vehicle for NBC. I’m excited to get back to running my legs.”

Other American contenders include Sara Hall and Annie Frisbie, both top 10 finishers at the 2024 U.S. Olympics Team Trials – Marathon, and Emma Bates, the 2021 Chicago runner-up.

Leading the way in the men’s field is Amos Kipruto of Kenya. Having reached the podium in three Abbott World Marathon Majors, including a victory in the 2022 TCS London Marathon, Kipruto now has his sights set on Chicago and, like Kebede, says he will also run in honor of Kiptum.

“My goal is to try to run a personal best,” said Kipruto, who trains with 2022 Chicago winner Benson Kipruto. “I want to show the world that I am still the kind of athlete capable of winning a major like Chicago.”

Kipruto will have to fend off Vincent Ngetich, also of Kenya, who has an identical personal best of 2:03:13 and is seeking his first major victory. Ngetich placed second at the 2023 BMW Berlin Marathon, five places in front of Kipruto, and third at this year’s Tokyo Marathon. This will be the first time Kipruto or Ngetich has competed in the United States. The race also marks the marathon debut of Daniel Ebenyo of Kenya. Ebenyo, the 2023 World Championships silver medalist in the 10,000m, won the Generali Berlin Half Marathon earlier this year.

The American contenders feature four top 10 finishers at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon: CJ Albertson, Zach Panning, Nathan Martin, and Reed Fischer. Martin won this year’s Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago. Panning was the second American finisher at the 2022 Chicago Marathon.

“After a heartbreaking Olympic Trials, I knew I wanted to run fast this fall. I can’t think of a better place to do that than the fastest marathon course in the world,” said Panning, who led most of the Trials before fading to a sixth-place finish. “Chicago feels like home. It’s where I debuted in the marathon, and it’s where I ran my personal best. This year, I’m coming to the race with big goals, hoping to improve on that PB and compete against many of the best in the world.”

Defending champions in the wheelchair division, Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner, will return to attempt to repeat their victories and better the course records they set in 2023. Hug, known as the Swiss Silver Bullet, will be chasing his fifth Chicago title. Hug will face two top Americans: familiar rival Daniel Romanchuk, a three-time Chicago winner, and Aaron Pike, who will make his 15th Chicago start.

“The Chicago Marathon has been a permanent fixture in my race calendar for years,” said Hug, a four-time Abbott World Marathon Majors series champion. “The energy of the city and the enthusiasm of the spectators are unique. I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge and trying to defend my title again.”

“I feel honored to return to the Chicago Marathon as defending champion,” said Debrunner, who holds the world record for the marathon in the women’s wheelchair division. “The crowd last year was amazing, and I am confident it will be the same this year.”

Debrunner, of Switzerland, looks to repeat following last year’s down-to-the-wire battle with Susannah Scaroni of the United States. Scaroni, the 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion, and Manuela Schär, the 2018 champion, are alsoOver 50,000 participants will participate in the 46th edition of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 13, 2024. For the latest event updates, registered participants and community members are encouraged to visit the Event FAQ available at chicagomarathon.com.

Bank of America Chicago Marathon Professional Field – Women’s Open Division

Bank of America Chicago Marathon Professional Field – Women’s Wheelchair Division

Bank of America Chicago Marathon Professional Field – Men’s Open Division

Bank of America Chicago Marathon Professional Field – Men’s Wheelchair Division

About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomes thousands of participants from over 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class professional 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. The 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant Park on Sunday, October 13, 2024. Before the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 10, Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October 12. For more information about the event and how to get involved, visit chicagomarathon.com.

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