Amos Kipruto chasing PB as he headlines Chicago Marathon field

Former World Marathon (2019) bronze medalist Amos Kipruto headlines a star-studded field for the 46th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon set for 13 October.

Having reached the podium in three Abbott World Marathon Majors including victory in the 2022 TCS London Marathon, Kipruto now has his sights set on Chicago where he says he will run in honor of marathon world record holder and compatriot the late Kelvin Kiptum.

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

Paris Olympics: Pressure mounting on Amos Serem to reclaim Kenya's heritage in steeplechase

Kipruto will have to fend off fellow Kenyan Vincent Ngetich, 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 either Kipruto or Ngetich has competed in the United States.

The race also marks the marathon debut of Daniel Simui Ebenyo, the 2023 World Championships silver medalist in the 10,000m, who won the Generali Berlin Half Marathon earlier this year.

John Korir, a 2:05:01 runner, a feat achieved in the same race in 2022 where he settled for bronze, completes the Kenyan men’s contingent to the race.

With Ethiopians keen on raining on Kenya’s parade, their charge is led by Dawit Wolde, a 2:03:48 runner who is joined by Amdework Walelegn who holds a 2:04:50 PB from this year’s Rotterdam Marathon.

The American contenders feature four of the top 10 finishers at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Marathon: CJ Albertson, Zach Panning, Nathan Martin, and Reed Fischer.

“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.”

Elite Men’s list

Amos Kipruto      KEN 2:03:13 (Tokyo, 2022)

Vincent Ngetich   KEN 2:03:13 (Berlin, 2023)

Dawit Wolde       ETH 2:03:48 (Valencia, 2023)

Amdework Walelegn     ETH 2:04:50 (Rotterdam, 2024)

John Korir  KEN 2:05:01 (Chicago, 2022)

Huseydin Mohamed Esa ETH 2:05:05 (Amsterdam, 2022)

Jemal Yimer ETH 2:06:08 (Seoul, 2024)

Tatsuya Maruyama        JPN  2:07:50 (Berlin, 2022)

Yuichi Yasui        JPN  2:08:48 (Beppu, 2023)

Jorge Castelblanco PAN 2:09:24 (Seville, 2024)

Zach Panning       USA 2:09:28 (Chicago, 2022)

Brian Shrader      USA 2:09:46 (Chicago, 2023)

CJ Albertson        USA 2:09:53 (Boston, 2024)

Tomoki Yoshioka JPN  2:10:03 (Beppu, 2024)

Reed Fischer        USA 2:10:34 (Boston, 2022)

Nathan Martin     USA 2:10:45 (Duluth, 2023)

Colin Mickow      USA 2:11:22 (Chandler, 2020)

Kevin Salvano     USA 2:11:26 (Chicago, 2023)

Jacob Thomson    USA 2:11:40 (Gold Coast, 2023)

Turner Wiley       USA 2:11:59 (Chicago, 2022)

JP Flavin    USA 2:13:27 (Boston, 2023)

Charlie Sweeney  USA 2:13:41 (Sacramento, 2023)

Ben Kendell USA 2:15:49 (Sacramento, 2022)

Phil Migas  CAN 2:15:53 (Hamburg, 2024)

Daniel Ebenyo     KEN Debut

Alex Maier          USA Debut

Isai Rodriguez     USA Debut