Kiplimo and Feysa Target Back-to-Back Titles at Chicago Marathon
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa will return to defend their titles at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, with both athletes facing strong international competition in the 48th edition of the prestigious race.
More than 55,000 runners are expected to take part in the 26.2-mile (42.164-kilometre) event, which has a history of producing outstanding performances and world-record times. Favourable weather conditions could once again create opportunities for elite athletes to challenge the clock.
Kiplimo Leads Men’s Marathon Contenders
Kiplimo arrives in Chicago as one of the leading contenders after winning last year’s race in two hours, two minutes and 23 seconds. The victory marked his first marathon triumph in only his second appearance at the distance.
The Ugandan strengthened his reputation with a third-place finish at the London Marathon in April, where Kenya’s Sabastian Sawe set a world record of 1:59:30. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished second in 1:59:41, while Kiplimo clocked 2:00:28.
The London race made history as the first marathon in which runners officially broke the two-hour barrier. Kiplimo’s performance placed him among the fastest marathon runners ever recorded.
Kiplimo also won the Lisbon Half Marathon in March with a world-record time of 57 minutes and 20 seconds. However, Kejelcha later lowered that mark with a 56:51 performance in Buenos Aires in August.
The Ugandan runner also claimed the World Cross Country Championship title in Tallahassee, Florida, in January.
Speaking ahead of his return to Chicago, Kiplimo said his previous victory had motivated him to prepare thoroughly for another strong performance.
Kipruto and Mengesha Aim for Strong Results
Kenya’s Amos Kipruto will also be among the leading contenders. The 2022 London Marathon champion finished second in Chicago last year after taking third place in 2024.
Kipruto believes his consecutive improvements in Chicago could help him challenge for the title this time.
Ethiopia’s Milkesa Mengesha is another athlete to watch. The 2024 Berlin Marathon winner and 2025 Shanghai Marathon champion will make his Chicago debut with a personal-best entry performance of 2:03:17.
Mengesha has expressed his ambition to achieve another personal best on the fast Chicago course.
Feysa Faces Tough Competition in Women’s Race
In the women’s event, defending champion Hawi Feysa believes she is better prepared than she was for last year’s race, which she won in 2:14:57.
Feysa will face a serious challenge from Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, who has an impressive record in major international marathons.
Kosgei won the Shanghai Marathon last year in a course-record 2:16:36 before claiming victory at the Tokyo Marathon in March with another course record of 2:14:29. She finished more than three minutes ahead of Feysa in Tokyo.
The Kenyan star has previously won the London, Tokyo and Chicago marathons twice each. She also set a women’s world record of 2:14:04 in Chicago in 2019 while successfully defending her title.
