by Deji Ogeyingbo
This is the preview of the 2022 RunBlogRun Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which will happen on October 9, 2022. The preview was written by Deji Ogeyingbo.
Ruth Chepngetich and Seifu Tura lead the elite field at Chicago Marathon.
The Chicago course might not boast the appeal of some of the top distance runners that came with the Berlin and London in the last two weeks with the likes of Eliud Kipchoge, Kenenisa Bekele, and Yalemzerf Yehualaw all setting various kinds of records, but it however still carries with it the weight of having the world record being broken on it’s flat and fast course five times in its 45-year history.
Still, Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich and Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura will lead the elite field at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this weekend as both runners will be seeking a second consecutive victory on the course after they both won in outstanding fashion in 2021. They both are certainly not minnows when it comes to tackling the 26.2 miles as they set their sights on breaking new boundaries.
Brigid Kosgei set a fastest-ever women’s time for the marathon when she ran a time of 2:14:04 in 2019 as Chepngetich will look to draw inspiration from her compatriot, who still holds the world record. The 2019 World Champion has a Personal Best of 2:17:08 set in 2019 at the Dubai Marathon. She also came third in the 2020 London Marathon and is the third-fastest woman of all time over the half marathon distance (1:04:02).
As expected, Ethiopian runners will always have a huge say in races like this, so it won’t surely be a stroll in the park for Chepngetich. 2019 Tokyo marathon winner Ruti Aga will come into the fray with experience running a Personal Best of 2:18:34 at the Berlin Marathon in 2018. Aga is, however, not a spring chicken when it comes to running marathons, as she has reached the podium in six other races, including New York in 2019.
Celestine Chepchirchir will be making her World Marathon Majors debut this weekend and will be poised to cause an upset. The 26-year-old heads into the race in good form, having taken a few minutes off her Personal Best to finish fourth in Seoul earlier this year in 2:20:10. Vivian Kiplagat gave Chepngetich a run for her money last year before losing steam and finishing fifth.
The men’s draw seems the most open of all in a while, and despite Tura taking the win last year, he would face stiff challenges from the likes of Herpasa Negasa (2:03:40), Bernard Koech (2:04:09), Elisha Rotich (2:04:21), and Dawit Wolde (2:04:27). After finishing fifth in 2019 and winning last year, Tura who has a PB of 2:04:29 will hope to make it back-to-back victories.
His countryman, Negara, is the fastest man on the entry list, having clocked 2:03:40 in Dubai in 2019, making him the 18th fastest man ever over the marathon distance. However, one of the most experienced runners on the field is Koech. Although he hasn’t raced since October last year, his road running resume is one that spans a decade and should bring that to the fore.
2021 Paris marathon winner Elisha Rotich should also pose a threat, as is Benson Kipruto of Kenya, whose PB of 2:05:13 might not seem so fast but has shown in recent years he knows how to perform in big races.
Elite fields
Women
Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2:17:08
Ruti Aga (ETH) 2:18:34
Celestine Chepchirchir (KEN) 2:20:10
Vivian Kiplagat (KEN) 2:20:18
Haven Hailu Desse (ETH) 2:20:19
Waganesh Mekasha (ETH) 2:22:45
Emily Sisson (USA) 2:23:08
Delvine Meringor (ROU) 2:24:32
Laura Thweatt (USA) 2:25:38
Sara Vaughn (USA) 2:26:53
Susanna Sullivan (USA) 2:26:56
Diane Nukuri (USA) 2:27:50
Men
Herpasa Negasa (ETH) 2:03:40
Bernard Koech (KEN) 2:04:09
Elisha Rotich (KEN) 2:04:21
Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:04:27
Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:04:29
Stephen Kissa (UGA) 2:04:48
Abayneh Degu (ETH) 2:04:53
Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:05:13
Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:18
Eric Kiptanui (KEN) 2:05:47
Kyohei Hosoya (JPN) 2:06:35
Hamza Sahli (MAR) 2:07:15
Amanuel Mesel (ERI) 2:08:17
Hiroto Fujimagari (JPN) 2:08:20
Guojian Dong (CHN) 2:08:26
Kiyoshi Koga (JPN) 2:08:30
Riki Nakanishi (JPN) 2:08:51
Jemal Yimer (ETH) 2:08:58
