August 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM Eastern
Stacked Professional Field Set to Race Fast and Chase Dreams Through Streets of Chicago
CHICAGO, IL – Today, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced its professional field for the 2025 event. The world’s greatest marathoners, including three of the four reigning Bank of America Chicago Marathon champions, will line up to chase victory at the race’s 47th running on Sunday, October 12.
Kenya’s John Korir, whose dominant 2024 victory in 2 hours 2 minutes 44 seconds was the second fastest time in race history, will return to defend his title. In April, Korir showed his Chicago victory was no fluke with a convincing win at the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. He has stated he hopes to run sub-2 minute 1 second, a feat only accomplished by the late Kelvin Kiptum when he set the world record of 2 hours 35 seconds in Chicago in 2023.
“I am confident that I will be able to defend my title at the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon this October,” said Korir, the eighth fastest man in history. “My training is going well, and I am focused on achieving another personal best time.”
Korir will have company up front from six men who have broken 2 minute 4 seconds. Kenya’s Timothy Kiplagat, second at last year’s Tokyo Marathon, is the second fastest man in the field with a personal best of 2 hours 2 minutes 55 seconds. Fellow Kenyans Amos Kipruto (2 hours 3 minutes 13 seconds), who was third in Chicago last year, and CyBrian Kotut (2 hours 3 minutes 22 seconds), who took third in Boston, will look to replace Korir atop the podium, as will two-time Olympic marathon medalist Bashir Abdi (2 hours 3 minutes 36 seconds) of Belgium.
Jacob Kiplimo (2 hours 3 minutes 37 seconds) of Uganda, the world record holder in the half marathon, will come to Chicago for his second career marathon start after a runner-up finish in the London Marathon this spring. Two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworwor of Kenya makes his Chicago debut after setting a personal best of 2 hours 4 minutes 33 seconds with a victory in the Rotterdam Marathon in April.
As previously announced, the American contingent will be led by Conner Mantz, who will attempt to break the American record of 2 hours 5 minutes 38 seconds set by Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. Mantz ran his personal best of 2 hours 5 minutes 8 seconds at the 2025 Boston Marathon, which is not record eligible. He’ll be joined by Galen Rupp (2 hours 6 minutes 17 seconds), the 2017 Chicago champion and third fastest American of all time, and local standout Matt Richtman (2 hours 7 minutes 56 seconds) who won the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon. Rory Linkletter (2 hours 8 minutes 1 second) will attempt to break the Canadian marathon record of 2 hours 5 minutes 36 seconds
“The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will always be a special race for me,” said Rupp, who was part of the Chicago Marathon broadcast team last year. “The atmosphere and buzz around the city of Chicago on race weekend is unmatched. Chicago is always a fast course and I’m looking forward to testing myself against a great field.”
The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome a new women’s winner to its history books. The field features Hawi Feysa (2 hours 17 minutes), who took third at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year, making her Chicago debut. Also coming from Ethiopia is the 2023 Chicago Marathon third place finisher Megertu Alemu (2 hours 16 minutes 34 seconds) who will be looking to claim her first victory on U.S. soil.
"I look forward to returning to the Chicago Marathon to try and improve on my previous performance there,” said Alemu, winner of the 2024 Valencia Marathon. “The course is very flat and fast; and with my good training this year; I feel that I am fit to run better this time in Chicago and move higher up on the podium. I look forward to the race and the energy that the city gives you."
Other notables on the women’s side include Irine Cheptai (2 hours 17 minutes 51 seconds) of Kenya, who was third here last year, Bedatu Hirpa (2 hours 18 minutes 27 seconds) of Ethiopia, who earned her personal best in Dubai earlier this year, Haven Hailu Desse (2 hours 19 minutes 17 seconds) of Ethiopia, who finished fourth in the 2025 London Marathon and Calli Hauger-Thackery (2 hours 21 minutes 24 seconds), the second fastest British marathoner who will race Chicago for the first time. Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, the 2023 World Championships bronze medalist in the 10,000m, will make her marathon debut.
The American race will be led by 2024 Paris Olympian Dakotah Popehn (2 hours 24 minutes 40 seconds) who set her personal best in Chicago in 2023. Popehn will be joined by Lindsay Flanagan (2 hours 23 minutes 31 seconds), ninth-place finisher at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, Natosha Rogers (2 hours 23 minutes 51 seconds), who set a massive personal best in Japan last spring, and former University of Utah standout Emily Venters, who will make her marathon debut.
“I’m coming back with one goal: run even faster,” said Popehn, who will run for the American Cancer Society. “There’s no place like Chicago for chasing speed: the crowd, the course, the energy—it’s built for breakthroughs.”
The reigning champions of the men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions, Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug, will return to defend their Bank of America Chicago Marathon titles in 2025. Debrunner will look to make it a three-peat after winning here in 2023 and 2024, while Hug will chase his fourth consecutive and sixth overall Chicago victory.
“Last year's victory at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a huge course record meant a lot to me. 2024 was a crazy year as it was a Paralympic year. I didn't expect that outcome at all,” said Debrunner, who won four gold medals in Paris. “This year I have the special situation of traveling directly from the World Track Championships in New Delhi to Chicago. I'm excited about this challenge!”
"Last year's Bank of America Chicago Marathon was a tough battle, only decided in the final climb and was one of the most exciting finishes I've ever experienced," said Hug, who's margin of victory was only four seconds. "With many top athletes returning to the Windy City, I'm hoping to cross the finish line first once again this year."
Hug will face a familiar battle with three-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon winner Daniel Romanchuk of the United States. Last year, the two engaged in a sprint finish down Columbus Drive with Hug beating Romanchuk by just four seconds. Top contenders also include Aaron Pike, who has 14 top ten finishes in Chicago and 2024 Paralympic triathlon gold medalist Jetze Plat of the Netherlands, who placed fifth at the Chicago Marathon last fall.
Debrunner will have to fend off a trio of past Chicago winners that includes 2023 champion Susannah Scaroni of the United States, two-time champion Manuela Schär of Switzerland and nine-time winner Tatyana McFadden of the United States.
Media interested in covering the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon can apply for media credentials now through Friday, September 12. Visit the Chicago Marathon website for more information on the media credential application.
More than 53,000 runners are expected to participate in the 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which starts and finishes in Grant Park. For the latest event updates, registered participants and community members are encouraged to visit the Event FAQ, available at the Chicago Marathon website.
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, more than a 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 $683 million 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 7:30 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.
Alex Sawyer, Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Phone: 1.312.992.6618
alex.sawyer@cemevent.com
Andy Aldridge, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.301.4615
andrew.aldridge@bofa.com
August 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM Eastern
Stacked Professional Field Set to Race Fast and Chase Dreams Through Streets of Chicago
CHICAGO, IL – Today, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced its professional field for the 2025 event. The world’s greatest marathoners, including three of the four reigning Bank of America Chicago Marathon champions, will line up to chase victory at the race’s 47th running on Sunday, October 12.
Kenya’s John Korir, whose dominant 2024 victory in 2 hours 2 minutes 44 seconds was the second fastest time in race history, will return to defend his title. In April, Korir showed his Chicago victory was no fluke with a convincing win at the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. He has stated he hopes to run sub-2 minute 1 second, a feat only accomplished by the late Kelvin Kiptum when he set the world record of 2 hours 35 seconds in Chicago in 2023.
“I am confident that I will be able to defend my title at the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon this October,” said Korir, the eighth fastest man in history. “My training is going well, and I am focused on achieving another personal best time.”
Korir will have company up front from six men who have broken 2 minute 4 seconds. Kenya’s Timothy Kiplagat, second at last year’s Tokyo Marathon, is the second fastest man in the field with a personal best of 2 hours 2 minutes 55 seconds. Fellow Kenyans Amos Kipruto (2 hours 3 minutes 13 seconds), who was third in Chicago last year, and CyBrian Kotut (2 hours 3 minutes 22 seconds), who took third in Boston, will look to replace Korir atop the podium, as will two-time Olympic marathon medalist Bashir Abdi (2 hours 3 minutes 36 seconds) of Belgium.
Jacob Kiplimo (2 hours 3 minutes 37 seconds) of Uganda, the world record holder in the half marathon, will come to Chicago for his second career marathon start after a runner-up finish in the London Marathon this spring. Two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworwor of Kenya makes his Chicago debut after setting a personal best of 2 hours 4 minutes 33 seconds with a victory in the Rotterdam Marathon in April.
As previously announced, the American contingent will be led by Conner Mantz, who will attempt to break the American record of 2 hours 5 minutes 38 seconds set by Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. Mantz ran his personal best of 2 hours 5 minutes 8 seconds at the 2025 Boston Marathon, which is not record eligible. He’ll be joined by Galen Rupp (2 hours 6 minutes 17 seconds), the 2017 Chicago champion and third fastest American of all time, and local standout Matt Richtman (2 hours 7 minutes 56 seconds) who won the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon. Rory Linkletter (2 hours 8 minutes 1 second) will attempt to break the Canadian marathon record of 2 hours 5 minutes 36 seconds
“The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will always be a special race for me,” said Rupp, who was part of the Chicago Marathon broadcast team last year. “The atmosphere and buzz around the city of Chicago on race weekend is unmatched. Chicago is always a fast course and I’m looking forward to testing myself against a great field.”
The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome a new women’s winner to its history books. The field features Hawi Feysa (2 hours 17 minutes), who took third at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year, making her Chicago debut. Also coming from Ethiopia is the 2023 Chicago Marathon third place finisher Megertu Alemu (2 hours 16 minutes 34 seconds) who will be looking to claim her first victory on U.S. soil.
"I look forward to returning to the Chicago Marathon to try and improve on my previous performance there,” said Alemu, winner of the 2024 Valencia Marathon. “The course is very flat and fast; and with my good training this year; I feel that I am fit to run better this time in Chicago and move higher up on the podium. I look forward to the race and the energy that the city gives you."
Other notables on the women’s side include Irine Cheptai (2 hours 17 minutes 51 seconds) of Kenya, who was third here last year, Bedatu Hirpa (2 hours 18 minutes 27 seconds) of Ethiopia, who earned her personal best in Dubai earlier this year, Haven Hailu Desse (2 hours 19 minutes 17 seconds) of Ethiopia, who finished fourth in the 2025 London Marathon and Calli Hauger-Thackery (2 hours 21 minutes 24 seconds), the second fastest British marathoner who will race Chicago for the first time. Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, the 2023 World Championships bronze medalist in the 10,000m, will make her marathon debut.
The American race will be led by 2024 Paris Olympian Dakotah Popehn (2 hours 24 minutes 40 seconds) who set her personal best in Chicago in 2023. Popehn will be joined by Lindsay Flanagan (2 hours 23 minutes 31 seconds), ninth-place finisher at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, Natosha Rogers (2 hours 23 minutes 51 seconds), who set a massive personal best in Japan last spring, and former University of Utah standout Emily Venters, who will make her marathon debut.
“I’m coming back with one goal: run even faster,” said Popehn, who will run for the American Cancer Society. “There’s no place like Chicago for chasing speed: the crowd, the course, the energy—it’s built for breakthroughs.”
The reigning champions of the men’s and women’s wheelchair divisions, Switzerland’s Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug, will return to defend their Bank of America Chicago Marathon titles in 2025. Debrunner will look to make it a three-peat after winning here in 2023 and 2024, while Hug will chase his fourth consecutive and sixth overall Chicago victory.
“Last year's victory at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a huge course record meant a lot to me. 2024 was a crazy year as it was a Paralympic year. I didn't expect that outcome at all,” said Debrunner, who won four gold medals in Paris. “This year I have the special situation of traveling directly from the World Track Championships in New Delhi to Chicago. I'm excited about this challenge!”
"Last year's Bank of America Chicago Marathon was a tough battle, only decided in the final climb and was one of the most exciting finishes I've ever experienced," said Hug, who's margin of victory was only four seconds. "With many top athletes returning to the Windy City, I'm hoping to cross the finish line first once again this year."
Hug will face a familiar battle with three-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon winner Daniel Romanchuk of the United States. Last year, the two engaged in a sprint finish down Columbus Drive with Hug beating Romanchuk by just four seconds. Top contenders also include Aaron Pike, who has 14 top ten finishes in Chicago and 2024 Paralympic triathlon gold medalist Jetze Plat of the Netherlands, who placed fifth at the Chicago Marathon last fall.
Debrunner will have to fend off a trio of past Chicago winners that includes 2023 champion Susannah Scaroni of the United States, two-time champion Manuela Schär of Switzerland and nine-time winner Tatyana McFadden of the United States.
Media interested in covering the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon can apply for media credentials now through Friday, September 12. Visit the Chicago Marathon website for more information on the media credential application.
More than 53,000 runners are expected to participate in the 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which starts and finishes in Grant Park. For the latest event updates, registered participants and community members are encouraged to visit the Event FAQ, available at the Chicago Marathon website.
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, more than a 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 $683 million 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 7:30 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.
Alex Sawyer, Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Phone: 1.312.992.6618
alex.sawyer@cemevent.com
Andy Aldridge, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.301.4615
andrew.aldridge@bofa.com
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