October 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern
Champions Rise and Make History at the 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon
DeBrunner smashes world record, Feysa defends title and Hurley sets the American debut record
CHICAGO, Illinois – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon celebrated its 48th running Sunday as more than 54,000 participants made their way through 29 Chicago neighborhoods. Amos Kipruto (Kenya) battled to the front in the men’s competition, breaking the tape in the second fastest time ever on U S soil, two hours one minute nine seconds, while Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia) defended her title, capturing the women’s crown in two hours thirteen minutes thirty three seconds, making her the fourth fastest woman in history. Emma Grace Hurley (United States) dazzled in her first marathon, breaking the American debut record with a two hours twenty minutes forty seven seconds while Clayton Young (United States) became the second fastest American man ever, running two hours five minutes twenty three seconds.
In the professional wheelchair competitions, Catherine DeBrunner (Switzerland) won her third Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a world record, one hour thirty three minutes sixteen seconds. Marcel Hug (Switzerland) claimed his seventh victory in a course record, one hour twenty one minutes thirty four seconds. DeBrunner’s world record marks the first wheelchair world record ever set in Chicago, fortifying the city’s reputation as a place to set records.
“We saw some tremendous racing today, with the world’s best athletes pushing each other to records and fast finishes all the way to Grant Park,” said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director, Bank of America Chicago Marathon. “That excitement carried through the entire field. Whether you’re competing for a title, coming back for another finish, running your first marathon or supporting a charity, Chicago gets behind you. The crowds, the neighborhoods, the energy: you couldn’t ask for a better setting for a day of racing.”
The men’s race brought together defending champion Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda), 2025 runner-up Kipruto (Kenya) and a deep international field ready to chase history. A trio of Americans, Charles Hicks, Clayton Young and Vincent Mauri, also lined up with their sights set on Conner Mantz’s two hours four minutes forty three seconds American record.
The men’s field took flight immediately on pace to break the late Kelvin Kiptum’s course record of two hours thirty five seconds. Surrounded by a contingent of pacers, the lead pack of six men, including Kiplimo and Kipruto, settled in to pursue the record books. The pack ran stride-for-stride through the halfway mark in one hour twenty one seconds, but by twenty five K, it was down to a four-man footrace.
In the end, the men’s race transformed into an exciting duel between the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and the runner-up. Kiplimo and Kipruto exchanged the lead multiple times before Kipruto finally made a decisive move after Mile 21, pulling away from Kiplimo and writing his name in the record books as the 2026 Chicago Marathon champion.
Kipruto crossed the finish line first in a swift two hours one minute nine seconds, coming within striking distance of the course record. Tadese Bikila (Ethiopia) finished second in two hours two minutes fifty six seconds, followed by Milkesa Mengesha (Ethiopia) in two hours three minutes forty six seconds. Defending champion Kiplimo held on for fourth.
“I was ready because this was my third Chicago,” said Kipruto. “In 2024, I became position three. I came again in 2025 and I became position two, and today, this was 2026 and I was ready…. You know, running a marathon, it’s all about the mindset, and when the mindset is ready to go, the body will follow.”
The American men’s race lived up to its pre-race hype with Mauri stepping up his pace flying through at an American record clip. Young and Hicks stayed in the hunt, eventually catching Mauri by Mile 22. Young prevailed in a personal best, two hours five minutes twenty three seconds, with Hicks not far behind in two hours five minutes thirty five seconds. Mauri, despite cramping late in the race, hung on for third in two hours six minutes forty five seconds. Galen Rupp followed 10 seconds later, annihilating the American Master’s Record by more than three minutes in two hours six minutes fifty five seconds.
The women’s open competition featured defending champion Feysa, returning two-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) and Sharon Lokedi (Kenya), the two-time Boston Marathon champion and 2022 New York City Marathon winner making her Chicago debut.
Similar to the men’s race, the women’s race set out at a blistering pace, with just Feysa and Kosgei bravely following the pacers. Lokedi, running her first flat and fast marathon, stayed back and conserved energy. Her patience paid off; twenty K into the race, Lokedi caught Kosgei and Feysa. The women remained on an incredible two hour twelve minute pace through the half.
By thirty K, the women’s race came down to a contest between Feysa and Lokedi. While Lokedi looked like she might have an extra gear, Feysa responded with another one, breaking away with one mile to go. Feysa defended her title in two hours thirteen minutes thirty three seconds and Lokedi locked in for second in two hours fourteen minutes seven seconds. With Kosgei’s third place finish in two hours fourteen minutes fifty five seconds, all three women logged times that put them in the top five women’s performances in race history.
“It’s a very hard fought battle in the later stages of the race,” said Feysa. “But around thirty five K, I was pretty confident I was going to win, despite the challenges, and it means everything to come here and win again.”
Hurley, the eight K American record holder and 2026 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle champion, took command among the Americans, setting out near American record pace the first five K. Running with her pacer through 20 miles, Hurley dug deep to smash the American debut record, finishing seventh overall in two hours twenty minutes forty seven seconds. U S Olympian Dakotah Popehn followed as the second American in a personal best, two hours twenty four minutes, and Elena Heyday finished as third American in two hours twenty four minutes fifty seven seconds.
Chicago also provided an opportunity for American athletes to pursue the 2028 U S Olympic Team Trials Marathon qualifying standards. Ten American men ran two hours sixteen minutes or faster and 12 American women ran two hours thirty seven minutes or faster for a total of 22 athletes meeting the time standards.
The women’s wheelchair race featured nine-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Tatyana McFadden (United States), two-time Chicago Marathon champion Manuela Schär (Switzerland) and two-time Chicago Marathon champion and world record holder Catherine DeBrunner (Switzerland). DeBrunner took an early lead and raced completely uncontested to the finish, bringing Chicago its first world record in the wheelchair competition. DeBrunner eclipsed her own world record by 60 seconds to finish in one hour thirty three minutes sixteen seconds. McFadden and Schär raced each other to a photo finish in one hour forty two minutes one second, with McFadden taking second and Schär third.
“I did not expect to break the women’s record here because it’s quite a technical course for us,” said DeBrunner. “But I felt great this morning at the start line. It was amazing weather and the crowd was amazing as well. I heard people from the beginning until the end.”
In the men’s wheelchair competition, six-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and world record holder Marcel Hug returned seeking another victory. Despite an early charge from David Weir (Great Britain), the race turned into a battle between Hug and his course record. Hug, widely known as the “Silver Bullet,” raced against the clock to set a new course record in one hour twenty one minutes thirty four seconds. Lito Anker (Netherlands) and Weir followed nearly nine minutes behind in one hour thirty minutes eleven seconds, with Anker second and Weir third.
“I was surprised I was in the front so early,” said Hug. “I knew I was a little bit ahead of the course record - just a few seconds. So there was a lot of pressure and it’s a challenge to manage it, but I have a lot of experience now.”
Winter Parts (United States) once again took first in the non-binary division with a two hours twenty eight minutes sixteen seconds.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will host the 2027 U S A T F Marathon Championships on Sunday, October 10, continuing the event’s long tradition of supporting American distance runners and providing opportunities to compete against the world’s best.
The championships will feature 20 American men and 20 American women competing for national titles, with prize money awarded through 10th place in both competitions. The Marathon will also expand its High Performance Program to 300 participants, providing additional opportunities for American athletes pursuing the qualifying standards for the 2028 U S Olympic Team Trials Marathon.
Event photos are available online at Chicago Marathon press page. To access the photos, you will need to sign up for a free account. Credit Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris.
The Abbott Chicago five K took place Saturday, October 10, bringing more than 10,000 runners to the streets of downtown Chicago ahead of the marathon on Sunday.
Daniel Docherty finished first in fifteen minutes nineteen seconds, followed by Sam McCool in fifteen minutes thirty six seconds and Samuel Blake in third in fifteen minutes forty four seconds. Abby Kohut-Jackson won the women’s race in sixteen minutes fifty seconds, with Marina Trave Ferrer finishing second in seventeen minutes thirty three seconds and Kaitlyn Trombatore taking third in seventeen minutes fifty three seconds.
Applications for guaranteed and non-guaranteed entries to the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon are now open. Applicants have until 2 P M (U S Central Time) on Thursday, October 29, to apply for the event’s 49th running on Sunday, October 10, 2027.
Registration is also open for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle eight K Run on Sunday, March 21, 2027, and the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 on Sunday, June 6, 2027. Together with the Marathon, these events will make up the fifth annual Bank of America Chicago Distance Series.
Participants who finish all three 2027 events will receive an exclusive Bank of America Chicago Distance Series medal and guaranteed entry into the 50th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2028. For registration information, visit the Chicago Marathon website.
In its 49th running on Sunday, October 10, 2027, 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 approximately seven hundred fifty six million dollars in annual economic impact to its host city. The 2027 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 10. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 7, Friday, October 8, and Saturday, October 9. 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 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern
Champions Rise and Make History at the 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon
DeBrunner smashes world record, Feysa defends title and Hurley sets the American debut record
CHICAGO, Illinois – The Bank of America Chicago Marathon celebrated its 48th running Sunday as more than 54,000 participants made their way through 29 Chicago neighborhoods. Amos Kipruto (Kenya) battled to the front in the men’s competition, breaking the tape in the second fastest time ever on U S soil, two hours one minute nine seconds, while Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia) defended her title, capturing the women’s crown in two hours thirteen minutes thirty three seconds, making her the fourth fastest woman in history. Emma Grace Hurley (United States) dazzled in her first marathon, breaking the American debut record with a two hours twenty minutes forty seven seconds while Clayton Young (United States) became the second fastest American man ever, running two hours five minutes twenty three seconds.
In the professional wheelchair competitions, Catherine DeBrunner (Switzerland) won her third Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a world record, one hour thirty three minutes sixteen seconds. Marcel Hug (Switzerland) claimed his seventh victory in a course record, one hour twenty one minutes thirty four seconds. DeBrunner’s world record marks the first wheelchair world record ever set in Chicago, fortifying the city’s reputation as a place to set records.
“We saw some tremendous racing today, with the world’s best athletes pushing each other to records and fast finishes all the way to Grant Park,” said Carey Pinkowski, executive race director, Bank of America Chicago Marathon. “That excitement carried through the entire field. Whether you’re competing for a title, coming back for another finish, running your first marathon or supporting a charity, Chicago gets behind you. The crowds, the neighborhoods, the energy: you couldn’t ask for a better setting for a day of racing.”
The men’s race brought together defending champion Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda), 2025 runner-up Kipruto (Kenya) and a deep international field ready to chase history. A trio of Americans, Charles Hicks, Clayton Young and Vincent Mauri, also lined up with their sights set on Conner Mantz’s two hours four minutes forty three seconds American record.
The men’s field took flight immediately on pace to break the late Kelvin Kiptum’s course record of two hours thirty five seconds. Surrounded by a contingent of pacers, the lead pack of six men, including Kiplimo and Kipruto, settled in to pursue the record books. The pack ran stride-for-stride through the halfway mark in one hour twenty one seconds, but by twenty five K, it was down to a four-man footrace.
In the end, the men’s race transformed into an exciting duel between the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and the runner-up. Kiplimo and Kipruto exchanged the lead multiple times before Kipruto finally made a decisive move after Mile 21, pulling away from Kiplimo and writing his name in the record books as the 2026 Chicago Marathon champion.
Kipruto crossed the finish line first in a swift two hours one minute nine seconds, coming within striking distance of the course record. Tadese Bikila (Ethiopia) finished second in two hours two minutes fifty six seconds, followed by Milkesa Mengesha (Ethiopia) in two hours three minutes forty six seconds. Defending champion Kiplimo held on for fourth.
“I was ready because this was my third Chicago,” said Kipruto. “In 2024, I became position three. I came again in 2025 and I became position two, and today, this was 2026 and I was ready…. You know, running a marathon, it’s all about the mindset, and when the mindset is ready to go, the body will follow.”
The American men’s race lived up to its pre-race hype with Mauri stepping up his pace flying through at an American record clip. Young and Hicks stayed in the hunt, eventually catching Mauri by Mile 22. Young prevailed in a personal best, two hours five minutes twenty three seconds, with Hicks not far behind in two hours five minutes thirty five seconds. Mauri, despite cramping late in the race, hung on for third in two hours six minutes forty five seconds. Galen Rupp followed 10 seconds later, annihilating the American Master’s Record by more than three minutes in two hours six minutes fifty five seconds.
The women’s open competition featured defending champion Feysa, returning two-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei (Kenya) and Sharon Lokedi (Kenya), the two-time Boston Marathon champion and 2022 New York City Marathon winner making her Chicago debut.
Similar to the men’s race, the women’s race set out at a blistering pace, with just Feysa and Kosgei bravely following the pacers. Lokedi, running her first flat and fast marathon, stayed back and conserved energy. Her patience paid off; twenty K into the race, Lokedi caught Kosgei and Feysa. The women remained on an incredible two hour twelve minute pace through the half.
By thirty K, the women’s race came down to a contest between Feysa and Lokedi. While Lokedi looked like she might have an extra gear, Feysa responded with another one, breaking away with one mile to go. Feysa defended her title in two hours thirteen minutes thirty three seconds and Lokedi locked in for second in two hours fourteen minutes seven seconds. With Kosgei’s third place finish in two hours fourteen minutes fifty five seconds, all three women logged times that put them in the top five women’s performances in race history.
“It’s a very hard fought battle in the later stages of the race,” said Feysa. “But around thirty five K, I was pretty confident I was going to win, despite the challenges, and it means everything to come here and win again.”
Hurley, the eight K American record holder and 2026 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle champion, took command among the Americans, setting out near American record pace the first five K. Running with her pacer through 20 miles, Hurley dug deep to smash the American debut record, finishing seventh overall in two hours twenty minutes forty seven seconds. U S Olympian Dakotah Popehn followed as the second American in a personal best, two hours twenty four minutes, and Elena Heyday finished as third American in two hours twenty four minutes fifty seven seconds.
Chicago also provided an opportunity for American athletes to pursue the 2028 U S Olympic Team Trials Marathon qualifying standards. Ten American men ran two hours sixteen minutes or faster and 12 American women ran two hours thirty seven minutes or faster for a total of 22 athletes meeting the time standards.
The women’s wheelchair race featured nine-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion Tatyana McFadden (United States), two-time Chicago Marathon champion Manuela Schär (Switzerland) and two-time Chicago Marathon champion and world record holder Catherine DeBrunner (Switzerland). DeBrunner took an early lead and raced completely uncontested to the finish, bringing Chicago its first world record in the wheelchair competition. DeBrunner eclipsed her own world record by 60 seconds to finish in one hour thirty three minutes sixteen seconds. McFadden and Schär raced each other to a photo finish in one hour forty two minutes one second, with McFadden taking second and Schär third.
“I did not expect to break the women’s record here because it’s quite a technical course for us,” said DeBrunner. “But I felt great this morning at the start line. It was amazing weather and the crowd was amazing as well. I heard people from the beginning until the end.”
In the men’s wheelchair competition, six-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion and world record holder Marcel Hug returned seeking another victory. Despite an early charge from David Weir (Great Britain), the race turned into a battle between Hug and his course record. Hug, widely known as the “Silver Bullet,” raced against the clock to set a new course record in one hour twenty one minutes thirty four seconds. Lito Anker (Netherlands) and Weir followed nearly nine minutes behind in one hour thirty minutes eleven seconds, with Anker second and Weir third.
“I was surprised I was in the front so early,” said Hug. “I knew I was a little bit ahead of the course record - just a few seconds. So there was a lot of pressure and it’s a challenge to manage it, but I have a lot of experience now.”
Winter Parts (United States) once again took first in the non-binary division with a two hours twenty eight minutes sixteen seconds.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will host the 2027 U S A T F Marathon Championships on Sunday, October 10, continuing the event’s long tradition of supporting American distance runners and providing opportunities to compete against the world’s best.
The championships will feature 20 American men and 20 American women competing for national titles, with prize money awarded through 10th place in both competitions. The Marathon will also expand its High Performance Program to 300 participants, providing additional opportunities for American athletes pursuing the qualifying standards for the 2028 U S Olympic Team Trials Marathon.
Event photos are available online at Chicago Marathon press page. To access the photos, you will need to sign up for a free account. Credit Bank of America Chicago Marathon/Kevin Morris.
The Abbott Chicago five K took place Saturday, October 10, bringing more than 10,000 runners to the streets of downtown Chicago ahead of the marathon on Sunday.
Daniel Docherty finished first in fifteen minutes nineteen seconds, followed by Sam McCool in fifteen minutes thirty six seconds and Samuel Blake in third in fifteen minutes forty four seconds. Abby Kohut-Jackson won the women’s race in sixteen minutes fifty seconds, with Marina Trave Ferrer finishing second in seventeen minutes thirty three seconds and Kaitlyn Trombatore taking third in seventeen minutes fifty three seconds.
Applications for guaranteed and non-guaranteed entries to the 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon are now open. Applicants have until 2 P M (U S Central Time) on Thursday, October 29, to apply for the event’s 49th running on Sunday, October 10, 2027.
Registration is also open for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle eight K Run on Sunday, March 21, 2027, and the Bank of America Chicago 13.1 on Sunday, June 6, 2027. Together with the Marathon, these events will make up the fifth annual Bank of America Chicago Distance Series.
Participants who finish all three 2027 events will receive an exclusive Bank of America Chicago Distance Series medal and guaranteed entry into the 50th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2028. For registration information, visit the Chicago Marathon website.
In its 49th running on Sunday, October 10, 2027, 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 approximately seven hundred fifty six million dollars in annual economic impact to its host city. The 2027 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 10. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 7, Friday, October 8, and Saturday, October 9. 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 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern
Champions Rise and Make History at the 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon
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Bank of America Chicago Distance Series Details Ways to Secure Entry into the 2027 Chicago Marathon, Chicago 13.1 and Shamrock Shuffle
August 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern
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