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Star-Studded Field and Great Marathon Weather Expected at 2023 Chicago Marathon

By mitchpa on October 6, 2023 • ( 0 )

By Clay Shaw
Photos by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

10.6.23, Chicago, Illinois, 45^th Bank of America Chicago Marathon—Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya returns to Chicago in search of her third victory at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Chepngetich started fast in 2022 and blitzed the first half of Chicago faster than Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia ran the first half of Berlin two weeks ago on her way to the new world record of 2:11:53. Chepngetich was on then world-record pace for most of the marathon, but slowed toward to end. She still ran 2:14:18 and earned the victory.

Eight women with sub 2:20 bests are entered, four of them Ethiopians. Tadu Teshome Nare, Genzebe Dibabe, Sutume Kebede, and Megertu Alemu, all whom have PBs between 2:17:36 and 2:18:32. Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya; Emily Sisson, the USA record holder at 2:18:29; and the multi-talented Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who won her only marathon in 2:18:33 in London earlier this year.

Americans in the mix are Des Linden of Charlevoix, MI, now a master’s runner (over 40); Emma Bates of Boulder, CO; Molly Seidel of Flagstaff, AZ, the 2021 Olympic Bronze Medalist; Dakota Lindwurm of Hopkins, MN; Sara Vaughn of Boulder; Tristin Van Ord of Blowing Rock, NC; and Diane Nukuri of Flagstaff, AZ. All USA women have bests under 2:28.

In the men’s field, defending champion Benson Kipruto of Kenya returns after his 2:04:24 win in 2022. Strong competition will be from fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum who won London in 2:01:25. 2021 Olympic medalist Bashir Abdi of Belgium has a 2:03:36 best. Ethiopians Dawit Wolde and Seifu Tura have 2:04:27 and 2:04:29 bests. John Korir of Kenya ran 2:05:01 in Chicago last year. Huseydin Mohamed of Ethiopia has a 2:05:05 best. Galen Rupp of Portland, OR, owns a 2016 Rio Olympic medal and has a 2:06:07 best, set in Prague 2018.

American Leonard Korir of Colorado Springs with a 2:07:56 was a late add to the elite field; Conner Mantz of Provo, UT ran 2:08:16 in Chicago 2022. Matt McDonald of Cambridge, MA ran 2:09:49 in Chicago 2022; Mixk Iacofano ran 2:09:55 in Chandler, AZ in December 2020; and Daniel Mesfun of Flagstaff, AZ, now an American citizen, ran 2:10:06 in Toronto in 2018.

The wheelchair division is loaded as well, especially the women, with four different champions at the four different Abbott World Majors in 2023. Manuela Schar of Switzerland, Susannah Scaroni of the USA, Tatyana McFadden of USA, Jessa Fesemyer of USA, and Catherine DeBrunner of Switzerland lead the very competitive women’s field.

Marcel Hug of Switzerland, “The Silver Bullet,” leads the men’s field, his World Record of 1:17:47 is from Oita, Japan in 2017. Josh Cassidy of Canada, Aaron Pike of USA, Johnboy Smith of Great Britain, and Daniel Romanchuk of USA all figure to challenge for podium spots.

42,948 participants are registered; a third of that number are coming to Chicago from outside the USA. Participants include all 50 states and 140 countries.