Kosgei returns to Chicago, Rupp chases the US masters record
Sunday's race has a stacked international field and the deepest American lineup in years.
Brigid Kosgei is back on the Chicago start line for the first time since her 2:14:04 world record there in 2019. Chris Chavez and Preet Majithia make her the women's favorite on the CITIUS MAG preview, off a 2:14:29 win in Tokyo and a 2:14 in Shanghai. Defending champion Hawi Feysa, who ran 2:14:57 last year, lost to Kosgei in Tokyo.
Sharon Lokedi is the other name to watch after winning Boston in 2:18:51, with a shot at a US Majors sweep. Loice Chemonge was fourth here last year in 2:18:24 and ran 64:01 for the half in February, sixth on the all time list. On the American side, Emma Grace Hurley debuts 19 days after a 1:06:23 half in Copenhagen, and the preview says recent workouts suggest she could be in 2 hour 20 shape. Dakotah Popehn returns with the 2:24:20 PB she set in Chicago last year.
Kiplimo is the man to beat
Jacob Kiplimo won Chicago last year in 2:02:23 and then ran 2:00:28 for third in London, a personal best a full minute quicker than anyone else entered. Amos Kipruto, at 2:01:39, is the only other man in the field under 2:02. Daniel Mateiko brings a 2:03:44 from Tokyo.
The American race may be the better watch. Charles Hicks has the 2:04:35 he ran at Boston in April, the second fastest marathon by an American citizen, and the preview gives him 38 percent odds for top American. Vinny Mauri, 2:05:54 at Glass City off an unconventional build that included seven weeks of long runs over 26 miles and a 45 mile day on the treadmill, sits at 24 percent. Clayton Young is chasing the 2:04:43 American record while pushing through a 12 centimeter tear in his semitendinosus, which drops him to 12 percent. Alex Mayer, a 2:08 man from Dusseldorf, gets 8 percent.
Rupp's record is the safest bet
David Monti calls the US masters marathon record, Elkanah Kibet's 2:10:02 from the 2024 Olympic Trials, the most likely mark to fall on Sunday. Galen Rupp, 40, ran a 1:01:30 half in his build up. CITIUS MAG quotes him saying it has been the most excited he has been heading into a race in a long time.
Weather is the one caveat. The forecast is 59 degrees at the start rising to 64, with the dew point climbing from 54 to 57, which the preview calls warmer than ideal for record chasing but manageable. Pro races go off at 8 30 a.m. ET on NBC5 Chicago, Telemundo Chicago and Peacock.
This has been the most excited I've been heading into racing in a really long time.
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