CHICAGO — Kenyan distance runner Amos Kipruto ascended to the top of the podium at the 2026 Chicago Marathon on Sunday, delivering a dominant performance that cemented his status as a marathon titan. After securing third place in 2024 and finishing as the runner-up last year, Kipruto finally claimed the title with a blistering time of 2:01:09, finishing nearly two minutes ahead of his closest competitor.
Kipruto’s victory marks a significant career milestone, arriving on the heels of a strong fourth-place showing at the London Marathon earlier this year. His pace on the flat, fast Chicago streets proved insurmountable for Ethiopia’s Tadese Bikila, who crossed the finish line in 2:02:56.
The women’s race saw a repeat of last year’s dominance, as Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa Gejia secured her second consecutive Chicago Marathon title. Gejia clocked a time of 2:13:33, crossing the finish line just under a minute ahead of Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi.
While international stars commanded the podiums, the American contingent provided some of the day’s most compelling storylines. Despite racing with a torn hamstring, Clayton Young finished as the top American male, placing seventh overall with a time of 2:05:23. He was joined in the front pack by fellow Americans Charles Hicks and Vincent Mauri. Mauri, who gained viral fame for his unconventional training on a public gym treadmill, pushed the pace for the Americans throughout the morning. However, Mauri appeared to suffer late-race cramps, which allowed Young to overtake him as the lead U.S. finisher.
The American women were led by Emma Grace Hurley, who turned in a historic performance in her debut marathon. Hurley finished seventh overall with a time of 2:20:47, setting a new record for the fastest debut marathon by a U.S. woman and standing as the only American woman in the top 10 finishers.
The wheelchair division saw historic displays of excellence from Switzerland. Catherine Debrunner continued her tear through the sport, winning the women’s race and shattering her own world record in the process. Not to be outdone, her countryman Marcel Hug claimed his fifth straight Chicago Marathon title, setting a new course record that further highlights his legendary status in wheelchair racing.
The 2026 race lived up to Chicago’s reputation as a world-class venue for distance running, with conditions favoring the record-breaking efforts seen in the wheelchair category and the tactical masterclass displayed by Kipruto. As the sun set over the Windy City, the results underscored a changing of the guard in some categories and the undeniable endurance of recurring champions in others.
This breaking news story will be updated.
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