October 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM Eastern
Ruth Chepngetich Smashes the World Record at the 46th Running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Catherine Debrunner Bests Her Course Record and John Korir Runs the Second Fastest Time in Event History
CHICAGO, Illinois – Ruth Chepngetich’s (Kenya) solo campaign to rewrite the record books dominated the day as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon solidified its reputation as a record-setting event. Following in the footsteps of the late Kelvin Kiptum, who set the world record in Chicago last fall (two hours thirty five seconds), Chepngetich relentlessly pushed herself toward the finish, breaking the tape in two hours nine minutes fifty six seconds (unofficial). On the men’s side, John Korir (Kenya) made a bold statement by running a personal best and the second fastest time in Chicago’s history, two hours two minutes forty four seconds. Marcel Hug (Switzerland) picked up his fifth victory, defending his title in the men’s wheelchair race in one hour twenty five minutes fifty four seconds. Compatriot Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) crushed her 2023 course record in the women’s wheelchair race to prevail over her competition and defend her title in one hour thirty six minutes twelve seconds.
In her signature style of racing, Chepngetich set a blistering pace from the beginning. Only Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede, who hinted at a world record attempt, tried to stay with Chepngetich, a move that saw her run the second half of the race eight minutes slower than the first half. Chepngetich’s half marathon split, one hour four minutes sixteen seconds, is the fifth fastest half marathon time in history and the fastest ever run on U S soil. The second half of the race emerged as a duel between Chepngetich and the clock. With a four minutes forty five seconds 25th mile, Chepngetich strode to victory, running nearly two minutes faster than Tigst Assefa's world record (two hours eleven minutes fifty three seconds). Chepngetich, who is self-coached, now owns the first, fourth and fifth fastest times ever run in Chicago.
Following the race, Chepngetich declared that breaking the world record was “my plan.”
“I was not worried [about the pace]. I was feeling good. I decided we will go with that pace,” said Chepngetich. “My plan was two hours nine minutes or two hours ten minutes. The world record is not easy. You need focus and determination.”
Chepngetich’s world record is the seventh set in Chicago, making the Bank of America Chicago Marathon home to both the men’s and women’s current world records.
“Ruth has put herself on world record pace in previous events,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “She knows what it feels like, and she is not unfamiliar with that. Today is an example of her fearless running style. I felt she would get the record - it was a matter of how, not when.”
More than seven and a half minutes after Chepngetich broke the world record, Kebede finished second in two hours seventeen minutes thirty two seconds while Irine Cheptai (Kenya) finished third in two hours seventeen minutes fifty one seconds. Susanna Sullivan (United States) was the first American woman across the line, finishing seventh in two hours twenty one minutes fifty six seconds. Her time makes her the fifth fastest American woman to ever run the Chicago Marathon and the 10th fastest woman in American history.
Unlike the women’s race, the men’s race quickly formed into a tight pack of 10 athletes that dwindled to seven by thirty K, but not for long. Between thirty K and thirty five K, John Korir (Kenya) hit the gas pedal, running a pair of four minutes twenty five seconds and four minutes twenty two seconds miles to leave his competition fighting for the last two spots on the podium. Korir captured the victory in Chicago in two hours two minutes forty four seconds, making him the sixth fastest man in history.
“I knew I was in two hours two minutes shape,” said Korir. “I knew I wanted to close the season with my P B (personal best), and I did. My training was good and when I was training, my coach told me, ‘You can run two hours two minutes.’ I believed him.”
Mohamed Esa (Ethiopia) put some distance between himself and Amos Kipruto (Kenya) over the final meters of the race, finishing second overall in two hours four minutes thirty nine seconds. Kipruto finished third in two hours four minutes fifty seconds. CJ Albertson was the first American to finish in two hours eight minutes seventeen seconds. Albertson took more than 90 seconds off his personal best to finish seventh overall.
The women’s wheelchair race turned into a time-trial effort for Paralympic gold medalist Catherine Debrunner after American Susannah Scaroni endured a flat tire that caused her to drop out of the race. Debrunner flew to the finish solo in one hour thirty six minutes twelve seconds, breaking the course record she set last year. Manuela Schär finished second in one hour thirty nine minutes three seconds and nine-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion, Tatyana McFadden, finished third in one hour forty one minutes fifty nine seconds.
"I was super excited to come back here to Chicago,” said Debrunner at the finish line. “I really like the marathon here. It was just really unfortunate that Susannah got a flat tire really early . . . there was a lot of wind and of course, it's always tough when you do all yourself. And I struggled quite often, so I was really happy when I was in the finish."
Unlike the women’s race, the men’s race came down to a sprint finish between Paralympic gold medalist Hug and three-time Chicago winner, Daniel Romanchuk. Hug, known as the “silver bullet,” used the slight uphill on Roosevelt Road to gain an advantage over Romanchuk. Prior to the race, Hug said that he was feeling tired after winning the Paralympic Marathon and the Berlin Marathon, but he saved enough energy to become a five-time champion in Chicago. Hug finished first in one hour twenty five minutes fifty four seconds. Romanchuk was second in one hour twenty five minutes fifty eight seconds and Tomoki Suzuki (Japan) was third in one hour twenty six minutes five seconds. Today marked the first time in Chicago Marathon history that three men broke one hour twenty seven minutes in the same race.
“I'm very, very happy, very satisfied,” said Hug at the finish. “It was a beautiful day for the marathon today with good conditions, great atmosphere . . . it was a tactical race. I attacked countless times and then we had a finish sprint and luckily I won."
David Eik (United States) was the first non-binary participant to cross the finish line in two hours thirty four minutes one second.
More than 50,000 [1] runners finished the 46th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the most in race history.
The 47th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on October 12, 2025.
The four-week application period for the marathon will open on Tuesday, October 22.
Event photos are available online. To access the photos, you will need to sign up for a free account. Credit Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris.
The eighth running of the Abbott Chicago five K took place on Saturday, October 12. The Abbott Chicago five K offers runners a unique opportunity to take over the streets of downtown Chicago. Yandelish Rodriguez Fontanet (Puerto Rico) broke the tape first in a swift fifteen minutes eighteen seconds. Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico) finished second in fifteen minutes twenty seven seconds, and Oscar Caltenco Abriz (Mexico) finished third in fifteen minutes forty three seconds. Emma Coburn (United States) blazed to the finish, winning in sixteen minutes nine seconds. Hannah Borenstein (United States) finished second in eighteen minutes sixteen seconds and Noelle Montcalm (Canada) finished third in eighteen minutes twenty nine seconds. More than 9,200 runners crossed the finish line on Wacker Street.
In its 47th year on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome thousands of participants from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class professional athlete field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut marathoners and charity participants. The race’s iconic course takes participants through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. Annually, 1.7 million spectators line the streets cheering on tens of thousands of participants from the start line to the final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race’s national and international draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating over five hundred forty seven million dollars and zero cents in annual economic impact to its host city. The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant Park beginning at seven thirty A M on Sunday, October 12. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 9, Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to the Chicago Marathon website.
Alex Sawyer, Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Phone: one three one two nine nine two six six one eight
alex.sawyer@cemevent.com
Diane Wagner, Bank of America
Phone: one three one two nine nine two two three seven zero
diane.wagner@bofa.com
To learn more about our endurance partnerships and download files for editorial use, visit our Endurance page.
October 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM Eastern
Ruth Chepngetich Smashes the World Record at the 46th Running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Catherine Debrunner Bests Her Course Record and John Korir Runs the Second Fastest Time in Event History
CHICAGO, Illinois – Ruth Chepngetich’s (Kenya) solo campaign to rewrite the record books dominated the day as the Bank of America Chicago Marathon solidified its reputation as a record-setting event. Following in the footsteps of the late Kelvin Kiptum, who set the world record in Chicago last fall (two hours thirty five seconds), Chepngetich relentlessly pushed herself toward the finish, breaking the tape in two hours nine minutes fifty six seconds (unofficial). On the men’s side, John Korir (Kenya) made a bold statement by running a personal best and the second fastest time in Chicago’s history, two hours two minutes forty four seconds. Marcel Hug (Switzerland) picked up his fifth victory, defending his title in the men’s wheelchair race in one hour twenty five minutes fifty four seconds. Compatriot Catherine Debrunner (Switzerland) crushed her 2023 course record in the women’s wheelchair race to prevail over her competition and defend her title in one hour thirty six minutes twelve seconds.
In her signature style of racing, Chepngetich set a blistering pace from the beginning. Only Ethiopia’s Sutume Kebede, who hinted at a world record attempt, tried to stay with Chepngetich, a move that saw her run the second half of the race eight minutes slower than the first half. Chepngetich’s half marathon split, one hour four minutes sixteen seconds, is the fifth fastest half marathon time in history and the fastest ever run on U S soil. The second half of the race emerged as a duel between Chepngetich and the clock. With a four minutes forty five seconds 25th mile, Chepngetich strode to victory, running nearly two minutes faster than Tigst Assefa's world record (two hours eleven minutes fifty three seconds). Chepngetich, who is self-coached, now owns the first, fourth and fifth fastest times ever run in Chicago.
Following the race, Chepngetich declared that breaking the world record was “my plan.”
“I was not worried [about the pace]. I was feeling good. I decided we will go with that pace,” said Chepngetich. “My plan was two hours nine minutes or two hours ten minutes. The world record is not easy. You need focus and determination.”
Chepngetich’s world record is the seventh set in Chicago, making the Bank of America Chicago Marathon home to both the men’s and women’s current world records.
“Ruth has put herself on world record pace in previous events,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. “She knows what it feels like, and she is not unfamiliar with that. Today is an example of her fearless running style. I felt she would get the record - it was a matter of how, not when.”
More than seven and a half minutes after Chepngetich broke the world record, Kebede finished second in two hours seventeen minutes thirty two seconds while Irine Cheptai (Kenya) finished third in two hours seventeen minutes fifty one seconds. Susanna Sullivan (United States) was the first American woman across the line, finishing seventh in two hours twenty one minutes fifty six seconds. Her time makes her the fifth fastest American woman to ever run the Chicago Marathon and the 10th fastest woman in American history.
Unlike the women’s race, the men’s race quickly formed into a tight pack of 10 athletes that dwindled to seven by thirty K, but not for long. Between thirty K and thirty five K, John Korir (Kenya) hit the gas pedal, running a pair of four minutes twenty five seconds and four minutes twenty two seconds miles to leave his competition fighting for the last two spots on the podium. Korir captured the victory in Chicago in two hours two minutes forty four seconds, making him the sixth fastest man in history.
“I knew I was in two hours two minutes shape,” said Korir. “I knew I wanted to close the season with my P B (personal best), and I did. My training was good and when I was training, my coach told me, ‘You can run two hours two minutes.’ I believed him.”
Mohamed Esa (Ethiopia) put some distance between himself and Amos Kipruto (Kenya) over the final meters of the race, finishing second overall in two hours four minutes thirty nine seconds. Kipruto finished third in two hours four minutes fifty seconds. CJ Albertson was the first American to finish in two hours eight minutes seventeen seconds. Albertson took more than 90 seconds off his personal best to finish seventh overall.
The women’s wheelchair race turned into a time-trial effort for Paralympic gold medalist Catherine Debrunner after American Susannah Scaroni endured a flat tire that caused her to drop out of the race. Debrunner flew to the finish solo in one hour thirty six minutes twelve seconds, breaking the course record she set last year. Manuela Schär finished second in one hour thirty nine minutes three seconds and nine-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion, Tatyana McFadden, finished third in one hour forty one minutes fifty nine seconds.
"I was super excited to come back here to Chicago,” said Debrunner at the finish line. “I really like the marathon here. It was just really unfortunate that Susannah got a flat tire really early . . . there was a lot of wind and of course, it's always tough when you do all yourself. And I struggled quite often, so I was really happy when I was in the finish."
Unlike the women’s race, the men’s race came down to a sprint finish between Paralympic gold medalist Hug and three-time Chicago winner, Daniel Romanchuk. Hug, known as the “silver bullet,” used the slight uphill on Roosevelt Road to gain an advantage over Romanchuk. Prior to the race, Hug said that he was feeling tired after winning the Paralympic Marathon and the Berlin Marathon, but he saved enough energy to become a five-time champion in Chicago. Hug finished first in one hour twenty five minutes fifty four seconds. Romanchuk was second in one hour twenty five minutes fifty eight seconds and Tomoki Suzuki (Japan) was third in one hour twenty six minutes five seconds. Today marked the first time in Chicago Marathon history that three men broke one hour twenty seven minutes in the same race.
“I'm very, very happy, very satisfied,” said Hug at the finish. “It was a beautiful day for the marathon today with good conditions, great atmosphere . . . it was a tactical race. I attacked countless times and then we had a finish sprint and luckily I won."
David Eik (United States) was the first non-binary participant to cross the finish line in two hours thirty four minutes one second.
More than 50,000 [1] runners finished the 46th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the most in race history.
The 47th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on October 12, 2025.
The four-week application period for the marathon will open on Tuesday, October 22.
Event photos are available online. To access the photos, you will need to sign up for a free account. Credit Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris.
The eighth running of the Abbott Chicago five K took place on Saturday, October 12. The Abbott Chicago five K offers runners a unique opportunity to take over the streets of downtown Chicago. Yandelish Rodriguez Fontanet (Puerto Rico) broke the tape first in a swift fifteen minutes eighteen seconds. Juan Luis Barrios (Mexico) finished second in fifteen minutes twenty seven seconds, and Oscar Caltenco Abriz (Mexico) finished third in fifteen minutes forty three seconds. Emma Coburn (United States) blazed to the finish, winning in sixteen minutes nine seconds. Hannah Borenstein (United States) finished second in eighteen minutes sixteen seconds and Noelle Montcalm (Canada) finished third in eighteen minutes twenty nine seconds. More than 9,200 runners crossed the finish line on Wacker Street.
In its 47th year on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome thousands of participants from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class professional athlete field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut marathoners and charity participants. The race’s iconic course takes participants through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. Annually, 1.7 million spectators line the streets cheering on tens of thousands of participants from the start line to the final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race’s national and international draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating over five hundred forty seven million dollars and zero cents in annual economic impact to its host city. The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant Park beginning at seven thirty A M on Sunday, October 12. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 9, Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to the Chicago Marathon website.
Alex Sawyer, Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Phone: one three one two nine nine two six six one eight
alex.sawyer@cemevent.com
Diane Wagner, Bank of America
Phone: one three one two nine nine two two three seven zero
diane.wagner@bofa.com
To learn more about our endurance partnerships and download files for editorial use, visit our Endurance page.
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