Kenya’s Kipruto and Ethiopia’s Feysa dominate Chicago Marathon titles
Kenyan marathoner Amos Kipruto delivered a personal-best performance to win the men’s race, while Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa defended her women’s title at the 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Kenya and Ethiopia shared the honours at the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, as Kipruto clocked 2:01:09 to secure the men’s title and Feysa produced a strong late surge to retain her crown in 2:13:33.
The results reinforced the two East African nations’ dominance in international distance running, with athletes from both countries occupying five of the six podium positions across the men’s and women’s elite races.
Kipruto’s victory marked a significant turnaround from his runner-up finish in Chicago last year, when Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won in 2:02:23. The Kenyan returned to the streets of Chicago determined to improve on that result and delivered a performance that moved him into the upper ranks of the men’s marathon all-time list.
Feysa, meanwhile, resisted a determined challenge from Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi to secure successive Chicago Marathon titles, ensuring Ethiopia claimed one of the two elite race victories.
Kipruto delivers career-best performance
Kipruto, 34, crossed the finish line in 2:01:09, improving his previous personal best of 2:01:39 by 30 seconds. He established that mark at the London Marathon in April 2026, where he finished fourth.
The victory was another major milestone for the Kenyan, who previously finished third in Chicago in 2024 and second in 2025. He is also the 2019 world marathon bronze medallist and won the London Marathon in 2022.
His Chicago performance placed him alongside former world record-holder Eliud Kipchoge on the world all-time marathon list. It was also the second-fastest men’s marathon performance recorded on American soil, behind the late Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 course record set in Chicago in 2023.
The men’s race unfolded at a demanding pace, with the leading group passing the 10-kilometre mark in 28:37 and reaching halfway in 60:38.
Kipruto remained among the contenders as the field approached the decisive stages. Uganda’s Kiplimo, the defending champion, was also in contention, alongside Ethiopians Tadese Takele Bikila and Milkesa Mengesha and Kenya’s Daniel Mateiko.
Kiplimo attempted to break away during the second half of the race, but Kipruto responded decisively, moving clear of his rivals between approximately 30 and 35 kilometres.
The Kenyan maintained his advantage to the finish on Columbus Drive, converting last year’s disappointment into a memorable victory.
Ethiopia’s Bikila finished second in 2:02:56, setting a personal best, while compatriot Mengesha claimed third in 2:03:46. Kiplimo finished fourth in 2:04:18.
Speaking after the race, Kipruto credited his preparation and mental approach for the breakthrough performance.
“My preparation for the Chicago Marathon was perfect, and I’m excited that I improved a lot in training after the London Marathon,” he said.
“Everything is about mindset. The field was tough, but I had to set my mind and make sure I finished on the podium. My plan was to beat my personal best from London last April, and it came to pass. I’m happy.”
Feysa holds off Lokedi in women’s showdown
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Feysa demonstrated patience and tactical discipline to secure her second consecutive Chicago Marathon title.
The defending champion faced a formidable challenge from Lokedi, the Kenyan who has won both the Boston and New York City marathons. The pair remained closely matched deep into the race before Feysa made her decisive move in the closing kilometres.
Feysa crossed the finish line in 2:13:33, improving her personal best by 84 seconds and moving to fourth on the women’s marathon all-time list.
Lokedi finished second in 2:14:07, also recording a personal best, while Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei completed the podium in 2:14:55.
The result was historic for women’s marathon running: for the first time, three women finished the same marathon in under 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Kosgei, the former women’s marathon world record-holder who set her previous world record of 2:14:04 in Chicago in 2019, returned to the city and produced her fastest marathon performance since that record-setting race.
Feysa’s victory continued her successful run in Chicago and underlined Ethiopia’s strength in women’s distance running, while Lokedi and Kosgei ensured Kenya also had a strong presence on the podium.
Leading men’s results
The top 10 finishers in the men’s elite race were:
- Amos Kipruto — Kenya: 2:01:09
- Tadese Takele Bikila — Ethiopia: 2:02:56
- Milkesa Mengesha — Ethiopia: 2:03:46
- Jacob Kiplimo — Uganda: 2:04:18
- Boki Diriba — Ethiopia: 2:05:01
- Daniel Mateiko — Kenya: 2:05:01
- Clayton Young — United States: 2:05:23
- Charles Hicks — United States: 2:05:35
- Akira Akasaki — Japan: 2:05:47
- Vincent Mauri — United States: 2:06:45
Leading women’s results
The top 10 finishers in the women’s elite race were:
- Hawi Feysa — Ethiopia: 2:13:33
- Sharon Lokedi — Kenya: 2:14:07
- Brigid Kosgei — Kenya: 2:14:55
- Mary Ngugi-Cooper — Kenya: 2:17:23
- Joan Kilimo — Kenya: 2:18:39
- Isobel Batt-Doyle — Australia: 2:20:38
- Emma Grace Hurley — United States: 2:20:47
- Degitu Azimeraw — Ethiopia: 2:20:59
- Magdalyne Masai — Kenya: 2:21:11
- Loice Chemnung — Kenya: 2:21:18
Written by Abeeb Lekan Sodiq for TheAfricanDream®
