Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo has claimed his first major marathon victory in spectacular fashion, winning the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2:02:23, the second-fastest time ever run in Chicago and one of the top performances in marathon history.
The 24-year-old, already a half marathon world record holder, lived up to his immense promise in just his second marathon, seizing control midway through the race and never looking back.
Kiplimo’s 1:00:16 halfway split set the tone for a record-chasing morning on Chicago’s famously flat course, and he maintained relentless pace through the back half to finish just 1 minute, 48 seconds shy of Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record (2:00:35), also set here in Chicago.
The early miles were electric. Defending champion John Korir led a loaded lead pack that included Amos Kipruto, Philemon Kiplimo, and Geoffrey Kamworor, as pacers took the field out on 2:00–2:01 tempo.
By 25 kilometers, the group had already thinned to five, and Kiplimo, calm and patient, began to assert himself. At 30K (1:25:31), he was clearly in control, and by mile 24 (1:50:50), he had opened a decisive gap on Korir, striding smoothly through the final miles down Michigan Avenue.
Kiplimo’s finishing time of 2:02:23 makes him the fifth-fastest man in marathon history and cements his status as the most successful transition from the half marathon to the full distance since Geoffrey Kamworor. For Uganda, it’s a landmark victory, the nation’s first-ever major marathon title, and a symbolic passing of the torch in the post-Kiptum era.
Behind Kiplimo, Amos Kipruto of Kenya finished second in 2:03:54, delivering another strong showing after last year’s 2:02:44 win, while Alex Masai rounded out the podium in 2:04:37. American Conner Mantz continued his breakout season, finishing as top U.S. runner, in fourth place and setting a new American record in 2:04:43.
Sunday’s result adds another historic chapter to Chicago’s reputation as the world’s fastest marathon. With Kiptum’s world record in 2023, Korir’s 2:02:44 in 2024, and Kiplimo’s 2:02:23 this year, the Windy City has now seen three of the five fastest men’s marathons in history, a streak unmatched anywhere else.
