Race organizers for the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon have announced a star-studded elite lineup. Both men’s and women’s elite races will feature past champions and top marathon stars from both American and international soil.
“We are accustomed to making history at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski in a press release. “With some of the fastest athletes in the world joining us this fall, we are hopeful to build on the tradition of great performances this year.”
Sutume Kebede headlines the women’s field and brings with her the fastest marathon time run this year and the eight-fastest woman of all time. Kebede of Ethiopia ran 2:15:55 to take the win earlier this year at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.
“I am extremely happy to come back to Chicago and run on a course that has proven to be very fast,” said Kebede in a press release, “After seeing what my teammate Kelvin Kiptum did last year, I want to come to Chicago to do something great.”
However, the road to victory for Kebede won’t come without some fierce competition.
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich, the fourth-fastest woman in history, will be looking to take her third Chicago Marathon victory after taking the title in 2021 and 2022. Chepngetich placed second at last year’s Chicago Marathon behind the legendary Sifan Hassan, who will not be starting the 2024 Chicago Marathon.
Chepngetich’s compatriot, Joyciline Jepkosgei, will also be one of the top contenders in the women’s race. Jepkosgei is both a London Marathon and New York City Marathon champion and placed fourth in the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
Among the American contingent is former American record holder Keira D’Amato.
D’Amato, who has been part of the Chicago Marathon broadcast team for the last two years, says she’s excited to get back to racing in Chicago, “I have a special history with the Chicago Marathon. The past two years, I’ve run my mouth in the lead vehicle for NBC. I’m excited to get back to running my legs,” she said in a press release.
Other top American women taking to the start of the Chicago Marathon this year include Emma Bates, Sara Hall, and Annie Frisbie.
Kenya’s Amos Kipruto headlines the 2024 Chicago Marathon men’s elite field. Kipruto is a three-time Marathon Majors podium finisher, including one victory at the 2022 London Marathon.
“My goal is to try to run a personal best,” Kipruto said in a press release. “I want to show the world that I am still the kind of athlete who is capable of winning a major like Chicago.”
Kipruto will be joined by compatriot Vincent Ngetich, who holds an identical personal best of 2:03:13 but has yet to secure a victory in a Marathon Major. Ngetich placed second at the 2023 Berlin Marathon and took third at the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.
Adding to the strong Kenyan contingent is Daniel Ebenyo, who will be making his marathon debut. Ebenyo has a strong background in the 10,000m, claiming silver at the 2023 World Championships and winning the Generali Berlin Half Marathon earlier this year.
Among the top Americans vying for glory on home soil are Zach Panning, Nathan Martin, Reed Fisher, and CJ Albertson.
“After a heartbreaking Olympic Trials I knew I wanted to run fast this fall. I can’t think of a better place to do that than the fastest marathon course in the world,” said Panning, who ran a gutsy Olympic Trials, in a press release. “Chicago feels like home. It’s where I debuted in the marathon and it’s where I ran my personal best. This year I’m coming to the race with big goals, hoping to improve on that PB and compete against many of the best in the world.”
Full Elite Fields
Women’s Elite Field
- Ruth Chepngetich KEN 2:14:18 (Chicago, 2022)
- Sutume Kebede ETH 2:15:55 (Tokyo, 2024)
- Joyciline Jepkosgei KEN 2:16:24 (London, 2024)
- Degitu Azimeraw ETH 2:17:58 (London, 2021)
- Ashete Bekere Dido ETH 2:17:58 (Tokyo, 2022)
- Hiwot Gebrekidan ETH 2:17:59 (Valencia, 2023)
- Irine Cheptai KEN 2:18:22 (Hamburg, 2024)
- Keira D’Amato USA 2:19:12 (Houston, 2022)
- Betsy Saina USA 2:19:17 (Tokyo, 2024)
- Dorcas Tuitoek KEN 2:20:02 (Amsterdam, 2023)
- Mary Ngugi-Cooper KEN 2:20:22 (London, 2022)
- Sara Hall USA 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)
- Emma Bates USA 2:22:10 (Boston, 2022)
- Buze Diriba ETH 2:23:11 (Toronto, 2023)
- Sara Vaughn USA 2:23:24 (Chicago, 2023)
- Susanna Sullivan USA 2:24:27 (London, 2023)
- Gabi Rooker USA 2:24:35 (Chicago, 2023)
- Lindsay Flanagan USA 2:24:43 (Gold Coast, 2022)
- Nell Rojas USA 2:24:51 (Boston, 2023)
- Stacey Ndiwa KEN 2:25:29 (Los Angeles, 2024)
- Laura Thweatt USA 2:25:38 (London, 2017)
- Lauren Hagans USA 2:25:56 (Duluth, 2023)
- Annie Frisbie USA 2:26:18 (New York, 2021)
- Jackie Gaughan USA 2:27:08 (Berlin, 2023)
- Dominique Scott RSA 2:27:31 (Chicago, 2023)
- Diane Nukuri USA 2:27:50 (London, 2015)
- Makena Morley USA 2:30:25 (Los Angeles, 2024)
- Anne Marie Blaney USA 2:30:43 (Orlando, 2024)
- Andrea Pomaranski USA 2:31:06 (Houston, 2023)
- Amy Davis-Green USA 2:33:09 (Orlando, 2024)
- Aubrey Frentheway USA Debut
Men’s Elite Field
- Birhanu Legese ETH 2:02:48 (Berlin, 2019)
- Amos Kipruto KEN 2:03:13 (Tokyo, 2022)
- Vincent Ngetich KEN 2:03:13 (Berlin, 2023)
- Dawit Wolde ETH 2:03:48 (Valencia, 2023)
- Amdework Walelegn ETH 2:04:50 (Rotterdam, 2024)
- John Korir KEN 2:05:01 (Chicago, 2022)
- Huseydin Mohamed Esa ETH 2:05:05 (Amsterdam, 2022)
- Jemal Yimer ETH 2:06:08 (Seoul, 2024)
- Tatsuya Maruyama JPN 2:07:50 (Berlin, 2022)
- Yuichi Yasui JPN 2:08:48 (Beppu, 2023)
- Jorge Castelblanco PAN 2:09:24 (Seville, 2024)
- Zach Panning USA 2:09:28 (Chicago, 2022)
- Brian Shrader USA 2:09:46 (Chicago, 2023)
- CJ Albertson USA 2:09:53 (Boston, 2024)
- Tomoki Yoshioka JPN 2:10:03 (Beppu, 2024)
- Reed Fischer USA 2:10:34 (Boston, 2022)
- Nathan Martin USA 2:10:45 (Duluth, 2023)
- Colin Mickow USA 2:11:22 (Chandler, 2020)
- Kevin Salvano USA 2:11:26 (Chicago, 2023)
- Jacob Thomson USA 2:11:40 (Gold Coast, 2023)
- Turner Wiley USA 2:11:59 (Chicago, 2022)
- JP Flavin USA 2:13:27 (Boston, 2023)
- Charlie Sweeney USA 2:13:41 (Sacramento, 2023)
- Ben Kendell USA 2:15:49 (Sacramento, 2022)
- Phil Migas CAN 2:15:53 (Hamburg, 2024)
- Daniel Ebenyo KEN Debut
- Alex Maier USA Debut
- Isai Rodriguez USA Debut
