Chicago Marathon organizers announced the professional field for the 48th running today, and it's one of the deepest lineups this race has ever seen. Race day is Sunday, October 11. I'll be on the course again this year as part of my Distance Series, and honestly, the pro field announcement is one of my favorite days of the buildup. Here's what stood out.
The men's race: Kiplimo defends against a loaded field
Jacob Kiplimo is back to defend his title after running 2:02:23 last year, only one performance in Chicago's history has been quicker. He hasn't slowed down since. He took third at London this year in 2:00:28, a time only two men in history have ever beaten, and he broke the world half marathon record in Lisbon with a 57:20. He also picked up his third straight World Cross Country title earlier this year. This guy is not just defending a title, he's arguably running better than he was 12 months ago.
He won't have it easy. Amos Kipruto has finished on the Chicago podium two years running (third in 2024, second in 2025) and he ran a personal best of 2:01:29 in London this spring. Alex Masai is back after his third place finish last year too.
The American storyline worth watching is Charles Hicks. His 2:04:35 at Boston this year is the second fastest marathon ever by an American, and Chicago will be his second career marathon. He's said flat out he wants to be part of the fast times this course is known for. Galen Rupp is also in the field, the 2017 Chicago champion and an Olympic medalist, alongside 2024 Olympian Clayton Young and Vincent Mauri, who came out of nowhere to win the Toledo Marathon in 2:05:54 this spring. Six men in the field have already broken 2:04. That's not normal.
The women's race: Kosgei's return is the story
Hawi Feysa is defending after winning by more than two minutes last year, and she's said herself that repeating will be harder this time around. She's got real reasons to worry. Brigid Kosgei, the former world record holder and two time Chicago champ, is coming back to this course for the first time since her dominant 2019 win, fresh off a victory in Tokyo. Sharon Lokedi is making her Chicago debut too, and she's one of the best in the world right now with wins at New York in 2022 and back to back Boston titles in 2025 and 2026. This will be her first flat major course.
On the American side, keep an eye on Susanna Sullivan and Natosha Rogers, both of whom set their personal bests right here in Chicago. Emma Grace Hurley is making her marathon debut after setting the American 8K record at the Shamrock Shuffle back in March, which is a fun local connection if you ran that race too. And Des Linden, two time Olympian, is running Chicago as part of her buildup to a 100 mile race later this fall. That's a wild range of goals in one start line.
Wheelchair divisions: Marcel Hug is chasing more history
Marcel Hug is a six time Chicago champion and has won the last four straight. He set the course record here in 2023 and he's back again. Daniel Romanchuk is the only other man to win this race in the past decade, and David Weir and Aaron Pike round out a strong men's wheelchair field.
On the women's side, defending champ Susannah Scaroni is sitting this one out to welcome her first child, but the field is still loaded. Tatyana McFadden, a nine time champion and the most decorated athlete in race history, is back, along with two time champions Manuela Schär and Catherine Debrunner.
Why this matters if you're running Chicago too
If you're one of the 55,000-plus runners lining up October 11, you'll be starting the same race as this field, just a few corrals back. Watching the pros come through Grant Park at the finish is one of the best parts of race week, and knowing the storylines ahead of time makes it more fun to track live. I'll have more on race week logistics, spectator spots, and expo details as we get closer to October.