Kipruto and Feysa Win Chicago Marathon 2026 as Kiplimo Fades to Fourth

Jacob Kiplimo came to Grant Park as the most dangerous man in the field. The Ugandan was the defending champion, held the world’s third-fastest marathon personal best at 2:00:28 from London in April, and was leading the race at 15K on projected course-record pace. He finished fourth. Amos Kipruto of Kenya, who ran second here in 2025, came through the chaos of the late miles to win the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2:01:09 — a new personal best and the race’s defining upset.

The 48th edition of the World Marathon Major produced one of the more dramatic men’s results in recent Chicago history. Six runners were locked together through 15K in 42:55, with the timing system projecting sub-2:01 finishes across the board. What followed in the second half rewrote every expectation in the field.

Chicago Marathon 2026 Official Results — Men

Source: Official Chicago Marathon 2026 results. Results unofficial at time of publication; subject to final ratification.

How the Men’s Race Unfolded: Kiplimo’s Unravelling and Kipruto’s Surge

Through the first 15 kilometres, this looked like a procession toward the course record. Six men — Kiplimo, Mengesha, Mateiko, Bikila, Diriba and Kipruto — moved through in 42:55 to 42:56, with the timing system projecting finishes between 2:00:41 and 2:00:45. Kiptum’s 2:00:35 was within reach. Kiplimo, bib number one, was leading.

What happened in the second half is still being pieced together from the splits, but the finish line tells a clear story. Kipruto, who had been sixth and a second off the pace at 15K, was the last man standing when the pack finally fractured. He crossed in 2:01:09 — beating his own personal best of 2:01:39 set at London in April. Behind him, young Ethiopian Tadese Bikila ran a composed 2:02:56 for second, and Milkesa Mengesha held third in 2:03:46.

Kiplimo’s afternoon is the harder story to tell. The man who ran 2:00:28 in London, who set a half marathon world record in Lisbon, who won this race in 2:02:23 twelve months ago — finished three minutes and nine seconds behind the winner. A single bad day on the world’s most unforgiving flat course. Chicago offers no shelter when the pace turns honest in the final 10 kilometres.

Top Americans: Clayton Young Leads a Strong US Showing

Clayton Young finished 7th overall in 2:05:23, the fastest American on the day and a significant marker for US marathon depth at a World Major. Charles Hicks was close behind in 8th at 2:05:35, and Vincent Mauri rounded out three Americans in the top 10 with 2:06:46. Three Americans in the top 10 at Chicago is a result the US running community will take.

Women’s Race: Hawi Feysa Defends Chicago Title in 2:13:33

Hawi Feysa came back to Grant Park as defending champion and left with the title again. The Ethiopian won the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon women’s race in 2:13:33 — a minute and 24 seconds faster than her 2025 Chicago victory, and a significant personal best. Sharon Lokedi, making her Chicago debut, pushed all the way to the line and finished second in 2:14:07. Brigid Kosgei, back in Chicago for the first time since her 2019 world record run, crossed in third at 2:14:55.

At Mile 24, Lokedi and Feysa were separated by a single second in projected finish time — the race had been that close for most of the back half. Feysa found another gear in the final two miles. Lokedi’s 2:14:07 on debut at a flat Major is a genuine statement; she has now won Boston twice and New York once, and Chicago suits her strengths. Kosgei’s 2:14:55 is a composed performance from a runner returning after seven years away from this course, even if it sits a minute behind the winning time she posted here in 2019.

Source: Official Chicago Marathon 2026 results. Results unofficial at time of publication; subject to final ratification.

Chicago Marathon 2027: Lottery Opens This Month

If today’s race has you thinking about Grant Park in October 2027, the moment to act is coming fast. The 2027 Bank of America Chicago Marathon entry lottery opens in late October 2026 — typically the week after this race. The application window runs for approximately four weeks and is free to enter. Results are announced in December, with automatic card charges for those selected.

For the full breakdown of all four entry routes — the general lottery, time qualification standards, the High Performance Program and what Indian runners need to know about US visa wait times that currently stretch up to 9.5 months in Mumbai — read our Chicago Marathon 2027 entry guide. The complete course guide, race history and travel breakdown is at our Chicago Marathon race guide.

Note: This cover picture is an AI-generated illustration, not an official photograph of the actual medal.