Kiptum, Chepng'etich among top marathoners confirmed for Chicago

The second fastest marathoners; Kelvin Kiptum and Ruth Chepng'etich headline the list of elite athletes who are set to battle for top honours in the Chicago Marathon on October 8.

Kiptum, who ran the second fastest time during the 2023 London Marathon held in April in what was his second ever marathon, will hope to clinch the men’s race in his first appearance in the streets of Chicago.

He will come up against scores of elite athletes who will fly to the United States looking to strike gold in the race that, will see all four of its defending champions including the wheelchair races feature.

Among those who will battle Kiptum include defending champion Benson Kipruto who registered the fourth fastest time ever in Chicago last year.

Should Kipruto win again, he will be the first back-to-back men’s open field champion since Sammy Wanjiru in 2010.

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Others include; Olympic medalist Bashir Abdi, 2021 Chicago winner Seifu Tura among others.

The 2022 Istanbul Half Marathon champion Daniel Mateiko is set to make his full marathon debut in the race so is Wesley Kiptoo. Mateiko was a pacemaker in London.

Fireworks will also be expected in the women’s category as the elite field is constituted by high-ranking marathoners.

Chepngetich ran the second-fastest time ever in the Chicago race last year, narrowly missing a world record as she fell just 14 seconds behind Brigid Kosgei's 2019 finish.

This year, she'll be seeking her third consecutive win, and another chance at a women's world record.

“I am planning to defend my title and improve my time. There’s no better race in the world than the Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” she told the organizers.

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The 2019 world champion will face London Marathon and Olympic 10000m champion Sifan Hassan who will be debuting on American soil.

Hassan made her marathon debut in London in April, setting up a new national record, despite stopping twice to stretch.

2022 London Marathon silver medalist Joyciline Jepksogei and Genzebe Dibaba who made her marathon debut last year in Amsterdam are also expected to race in Chicago.