John Korir, Jacob Kiplimo Headline Stacked 2025 Chicago Marathon Field

With multiple sub-2:04 runners and national records in play, all eyes are on fast times... and Ruth Chepngetich’s absence

Last Updated: Aug 14, 2025 8:22 pm

Jessy Carveth

Jessy Carveth

Jessy is our Senior News Editor, pro cyclist and former track and field athlete with a Bachelors degree in Kinesiology.

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The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has confirmed its professional fields for October 12, and the lineup could produce some of the fastest times in the event’s history. The return of John Korir, multiple national record attempts, and a deep roster of global talent will headline race day.

But excitement over the competition comes alongside the ongoing provisional suspension of Ruth Chepngetich, the reigning women’s world record holder.

John Korir, Jacob Kiplimo Headline Stacked 2025 Chicago Marathon Field 1

John Korir, last year’s winner in 2:02:44, will return to defend his title. That performance was the second-fastest in Chicago history, behind Kelvin Kiptum’s 2:00:35 world record in 2023. Korir also won this year’s Boston Marathon and has made his goal clear.

“I am confident that I will be able to defend my title at the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon this October,” he said. “My training is going well, and I am focused on achieving another personal best time.”

The men’s field includes six others who have broken 2:04: Timothy Kiplagat, Amos Kipruto, CyBrian Kotut, Bashir Abdi, Jacob Kiplimo, and Geoffrey Kamworwor.

For U.S. fans, Conner Mantz will try to break Khalid Khannouchi’s American record of 2:05:38. Mantz ran 2:05:08 in Boston earlier this year, though the time is not record-eligible. He will be joined by Galen Rupp and Matt Richtman, while Rory Linkletter targets the Canadian record.

John Korir, Jacob Kiplimo Headline Stacked 2025 Chicago Marathon Field 2

On the women’s side, no defending champion returns, making for a wide-open race. Megertu Alemu, third in Chicago in 2023, has a personal best of 2:16:34 and won the 2024 Valencia Marathon.

“I look forward to returning to the Chicago Marathon to try and improve on my previous performance there,” Alemu said. “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.”

She will face Hawi Feysa, Irine Cheptai, Bedatu Hirpa, Haven Hailu Desse, and debutantes Ejgayehu Taye and Emily Venters.

John Korir, Jacob Kiplimo Headline Stacked 2025 Chicago Marathon Field 3

The build-up to this year’s race continues under the shadow of Ruth Chepngetich’s provisional suspension. Chepngetich set the women’s marathon world record of 2:09:56 in Chicago in 2024, becoming the first woman to break 2:10.

In March, the Athletics Integrity Unit announced that she had tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic. On April 19, she accepted a voluntary provisional suspension, and in July, the AIU issued a Notice of Charge and imposed its own suspension.

Chicago Marathon officials have not commented on whether her 2024 record would be affected if the case is upheld.

For now, the city will welcome more than 53,000 runners this October, with an elite field capable of producing historic times, while the sport waits for resolution in one of its highest-profile doping cases in years.