Chicago Marathon 2026: Kipruto, Kosgei and Lokedi lead Kenya's challenge on Sunday
Amos Kipruto wants to go one better than last year's second place, and Brigid Kosgei and Sharon Lokedi head a deep Kenyan women's field. Here are the Kenyans to watch and the rivals in their way.
In short: The 48th Chicago Marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. Chicago time on Sunday 11 October, which is 3:30 p.m. in Kenya. Amos Kipruto, second last year, leads the Kenyan men against defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda. Brigid Kosgei and Sharon Lokedi lead the Kenyan women against defending champion Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia.
Two weeks after Kenya missed the podium in Berlin, the country's marathoners get their next big chance on Sunday at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The 48th edition starts and finishes in Grant Park, with the elite fields setting off at 7:30 a.m. Chicago time (3:30 p.m. in Kenya). Both defending champions are back: Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda and Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia.
The Kenyan men
Amos Kipruto is Kenya's leading man. The 2022 London Marathon champion was third in Chicago in 2024 and second in 2025, and Capital FM reports that he arrives wanting to go one better. His best is 2:01:39, run at the London Marathon in April.
Daniel Mateiko ran his best of 2:03:44 in finishing fourth at the Tokyo Marathon this year. Brian Kibor makes his marathon debut; his half marathon best is 58:39, from Valencia in 2025. Alex Masai, third in Chicago last year, has withdrawn.
The men they must beat
- Jacob Kiplimo (Uganda), the defending champion, won last year in 2:02:23, the second-fastest time in the race's history. He ran 2:00:28 for third at London in April, the third-fastest marathon ever, and set a half marathon world record of 57:20 in Lisbon this year.
- Milkesa Mengesha (Ethiopia), the 2024 Berlin champion, best 2:03:17.
- Tadese Takele Bikila (Ethiopia), back-to-back Tokyo Marathon champion, best 2:03:23.
- Asrar Hiyrden (Ethiopia), 2:03:59 in Seville this year.
- Charles Hicks (USA), whose 2:04:35 in Boston is the second-fastest marathon by an American, although Boston's course is not record-eligible.
The Kenyan women
Brigid Kosgei knows Chicago better than anyone in the field. She won it in 2018 and 2019, and her 2:14:04 from 2019 was a world record at the time. It is still the fastest best in this year's field, and she won the Tokyo Marathon this year.
Sharon Lokedi makes her Chicago debut. She won the New York City Marathon in 2022 and the Boston Marathon in both 2025 and 2026, and her best is 2:17:22 from Boston in 2025.
Kenya's depth is the story of the women's race. Brillian Kipkoech ran 2:17:05 in Hamburg this year. Loice Chemnung (2:18:24) and Mary Ngugi-Cooper (2:19:26) were fourth and fifth here last year. Joan Kilimo (2:18:40, Barcelona 2026) and Magdalyne Masai (2:18:58) complete the Kenyan entry.
The women they must beat
- Hawi Feysa (Ethiopia), the defending champion, won last year by more than two minutes in 2:14:57. She also won Frankfurt in 2024 and was third in Tokyo this year.
- Sutume Kebede (Ethiopia), best 2:15:55.
- Megertu Alemu (Ethiopia), best 2:16:34.
- Degitu Azimeraw (Ethiopia), best 2:17:58.
- Fantu Worku (Ethiopia), 2:19:08 in Dubai this year.
The leading Americans include Sara Hall, Susanna Sullivan and Des Linden. Emma Grace Hurley, fifth in the half marathon at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen last month, makes her marathon debut.
How to follow it
The race starts at 7:30 a.m. in Chicago (8:30 a.m. US Eastern, 3:30 p.m. in Kenya). Live tracking is on the Chicago Marathon website and app. Dates for the rest of the season are on the Pimeys race calendar, and we will publish the Kenyan results after the race.