Ruth Chepngetich headlines 2024 Chicago Marathon
Written by I Dig SportsThe fourth fastest female marathon runner in history will race in Chicago again, with Amos Kipruto the quickest athlete in the mens field
Ruth Chepngetich returns to the Chicago Marathon (October 13), two years after running a stunning 2:14:18 in the US city.
That time put the Kenyan second on the all-time list, before both Tigist Assefa (2:11:53) and Sifan Hassan (2:13:44) went quicker in 2023.
It means that Chepngetich, who also won the world marathon title in Doha five years ago, is now fourth on the all-time list.
She will also be hoping to make it a hat-trick of wins in Chicago after being on the top of the podium in both 2021 and 2022.
Chepngetich wasnt selected for the Kenyan marathon team at the Paris Olympics. She did run for her country at the Tokyo Games but sadly didnt finish.
The 29-year-old also finished third at the 2020 London Marathon and is also first woman in history to break the 2:18 barrier on three separate occasions.
Chepngetich wont have it all her own way in Chicago though. Two names to watch out for are Ethiopias Sutume Kebede and fellow Kenyan Joyciline Jepkosgei.
Kebede is the current Tokyo marathon champion and has a personal best of 2:15:55 while Jepkosgei has run 2:16:24 and is both a winner of the New York and London Marathon.
Some of the leading US entries include Keira DAmato, Sara Hall and Emma Bates.
DAmato, who has a personal best of 2:19:12, finished 10th in the 10,000m at the US Olympic 10,000m trials and this will be her first race over 26.2 miles this season.
Hall was third in Chicago three years ago and placed fifth at the US Olympic marathon trials in Orlando back in February.
Bates finished 12th at this years Boston Marathon and took second place in Chicago in 2021.
In the mens field, Amos Kipruto leads the line of elite entries.
The Kenyan, who claimed world bronze in Doha three years ago, has a marathon best of 2:03:13.
The 2022 London Marathon champion will face stiff competition from compatriot Vincent Kipkemoi and Ethiopias Dawit Wolde.
Kipkemoi was runner-up to Eliud Kipchoge at last years Berlin Marathon and has a personal best of 2:03:13, while Wolde competed at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics.
Some of the leading US entries include Zach Panning, Brian Shrader and CJ Albertson, who have best marks of 2:09:28, 2:09:46 and 2:09:53 respectively.
You should also watch out for current world 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo, who will make his marathon debut in Chicago.
The Chicago Marathon officially started out in 1977 and has taken place in every year bar 1987 and 2020.