The women’s field chased the world record as well with two-time defending champion Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) and Olympic gold medalist Sifan Hassan running through the halfway point in 1:05:42. Hassan, just six weeks removed from winning two medals on the track at the World Championships in Budapest, broke away at 30K. While her pace slowed in the closing miles, the move was too big for Chepngetich to overcome. Hassan crossed the line in 2:13:44, the second fastest women’s marathon time ever, two minutes ahead of Chepngetich.
“It’s just amazing. I am grateful that I won,” said Hassan, the first athlete from the Netherlands to win any division of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. “The last 5K was very hard. I said to myself, ‘I’m never going to run a marathon again.’ I can’t describe how happy I am.”
Seven American women ran under the Paris 2024 standard of 2:26:50. Leading them was Emily Sisson who finished seventh in 2:22:09, after making an early run at her American record of 2:18:29.
“I felt a side stitch come on and the last 8 miles were pretty rough,” said Sisson. “I was proud to be able to gut it out and still be able to finish strong.”
Olympic bronze medalist Molly Seidel was eighth in a new personal best of 2:23:07 and Sara Vaughn was tenth in 2:23:24. Gabriella Rooker (2:24:35), Dakotah Lindwurm (2:24:40), Emma Bates (2:25:04) and Tristin Van Ord (2:25:58) also all now have the Paris standard.
In her first Bank of America Chicago Marathon since 2010, two-time Olympian Des Linden (USA) broke the U.S. masters record with her 17th place finish in 2:27:35.
“That was the goal,” said Linden. “Anytime you get to chase a Deena Kastor record, it’s something that is worth getting excited about.”
The men’s wheelchair race was a time-trial effort from Marcel Hug. Hug pushed out to lead from the start and never had competition up front. He shattered his own course record by nearly three minutes, winning his fourth Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 1:22:37.
“It’s unbelievable. I was feeling great this morning.” said Hug, who is undefeated through four races in 2023. “I tried to break the record, but to break it by so much is crazy.”
Three-time Chicago champion Daniel Romanchuk (USA) was second in 1:31:34. Jetze Plat (NED) was third in 1:31:40.
The women’s wheelchair competition was a battle from start to finish between Susannah Scaroni (USA) and world record holder Catherine Debrunner. The two traded the lead throughout the race with Debrunner taking over for the last time in the final mile. After the turn onto Columbus Drive, Debrunner was able to pull slightly ahead, winning in a new course record of 1:38:44, two seconds ahead of Scaroni.
“It was an amazing race,” said Debrunner, who was competing in the United States for the first time. “I had a really great race together with Susannah Scaroni. She attacked really hard at the last hill, but I could fight and I made it. I am really proud of both of us.”
Nine-time Chicago champion Tatyana McFadden, who previously held the course record, finished third in 1:41:17.
Under ideal conditions for fall in the Midwest, more than 48,500 finished the 45th running of the Bank of Chicago Marathon, the most in race history. That includes the event’s millionth finisher, Allison Naval of Evanston, Ill.
Jake Caswell of New York, NY was the first non-binary participant to cross the finish line with a time of 2:38:05.
The 46th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on October 13, 2024. Applications for the event open on October 17.
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