Eric Kiptanui eyeing Chicago Marathon title

With three Kenyans set to line up in the men's race at this year's Chicago Marathon set for Sunday 9 October, last year's bronze medalist Eric Kiptanui has his eyes set on the ultimate prize. 

The 32-year-old goes into the race as the seventh fastest athlete with a personal best (PB) time of 2:05.47 clocked while winning the Xiamen Marathon in Siena, Italy last year. 

The 2020 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon silver medalist says he has recovered mentally from his Commonwealth Games woes and is ready to fight for the Chicago title. 

Kiptanui was set to represent the country at the 'Club Games' on 1 August but he ended up missing the show as one Eric Kiplagat Sang was erroneously entered in his place, a mistake discovered too late for anything to be done and have the right athlete compete. 

"I am hoping for a good race on Sunday. I am ready mentally. The Commonwealth Games situation was a big mess but I have since recovered and my mind is in the right place. 

I know the Chicago course well having competed here last year. I have not set a specific time to run, my target is to run my best race and win," Kiptanui offered in an interview with Mozzart Sport. 

Kiptanui, however, goes up against tough opposition in the race headlined by Ethiopia’s Herpasa Negasa with defending champion Seifu Tura also in the mix.

His compatriot Benson Kipruto and John Korir should offer both competition and companionship in the classic distance. 

Kipruto who has been a runner to look out for since his 2018 win in Toronto where he clocked 2:05:13, a Canadian soil record then has been touted as a favourite despite not having the fastest PB. 

Chepngetich out to defend Chicago Marathon title

He has reached the podium in all four of his last marathons, including his 2021 Boston Marathon win. 

Meanwhile, 25-year-old Korir has already defended his Los Angeles marathon in March this year, clocking what stands as his PB to date 2:09.08, barely two months after finishing second the Aramco Houston half marathon. 

Four Ethiopian lead the elite list with Uganda's Stephen Kissa fifth fastest with his 2:04.48 set this year in Hamburg and should pose a real threat. 

Elite men's list

1. Herpasa Negasa 2:03:40 (Dubai, 2019) ETH
2. Dawit Wolde 2:04:27 (Rotterdam, 2021) ETH
3. Seifu Tura 2:04:29 (Milan, 2021) ETH
4. Asrar Abderehman 2:04:43 (Seville, 2022) ETH
5. Stephen Kissa 2:04:48 (Hamburg, 2022) UGA
6. Benson Kipruto 2:05:13 (Toronto, 2019) KEN
7. Eric Kiptanui 2:05:47 (Siena, 2021) KEN
8. Kyohei Hosoya 2:06:35 (Otsu, 2021) JPN
9. Hamza Sahli 2:07:15 (Seoul, 2022) MAR
10. Ichitaka Yamashita 2:07:42 (Otsu, 2022) JPN
11. Hiroto Fujimagari 2:08:20 (Oita, 2022) JPN
12. Kiyoshi Koga 2:08:30 (Oita, 2022) JPN
13. Riki Nakanishi 2:08:51 (Oita, 2022) JPN
14. John Korir 2:09:08 (Los Angeles, 2022) KEN
15. Matt McDonald 2:10:35 (Boston, 2022) USA
16. Jerrell Mock 2:10:37 (Chicago, 2019) USA
17. Jeisson Suarez 2:10:51 (Enschede, 2021) COL
18. Colin Mickow 2:11:22 (Chandler, 2020) USA
19. Frank Lara 2:11:32 (Houston, 2022) USA
20. Reid Buchanan 2:11:38 (Chandler, 2020) USA
21. Wilkerson Given 2:11:44 (Chicago, 2019) USA
22. Tyler McCandless 2:12:28 (Sacramento, 2017) USA
23. Turner Wiley 2:13:40 (Duluth, 2022) USA
24. Nico Montanez 2:13:55 (Chicago, 2021) USA
25. Alan Peterson 2:14:45 (Chandler, 2020) USA
26. Dan Kremske 2:14:53 (Chicago, 2019) USA
27. Zach Panning 2:15:04 (Chicago, 2021) USA
28. Paul Hogan 2:15:08 (Boston, 2022) USA
29. Clayton Young 2:16:07 (Chicago, 2021) USA
30. Garret Lee 2:18:21 (Duluth, 2021) USA
31. Abdulmuhsen Alali 2:19:17 (Mesa, 2022) KUW
32. Chase Weaverling 2:20:58 (Atlanta, 2020) USA
33. John Dressel Debut USA
34. JP Flavin Debut USA
35. Conner Mantz Debut USA
36. Patrick Tiernan Debut AUS