- Kiptum is the second fastest marathoner in the world
- He has won both marathons he has competed in
- Benson Kipruto is the defending champion
Kevin Kiptum will attempt to have a go at history on Sunday when he competes at the Chicago Marathon, looking to possibly have challenge Eliud Kipchoge’s World Record.
Though not usually an ideal place for world records due to its tough course and difficult weather, Kiptum, the second fastest marathoner in history will look to challenge for a possible history setting race.
At the London Marathon this year, Kiptum won in a brilliant time of 2:01:25, which was 16 seconds outside the world record.
He made his Marathon debut in Valencia in 2022, winning the race in the fastest debut ever recorded, clocking 2:01:53. In his Chicago debut, he will be looking to have a crack at another victory, in super fast times.
He comes up against defending champion Benson Kipruto who is looking to retain his crown.
Regular podium finisher
A regular podium finisher in major marathons over the past two years, Kipruto won the men’s race last year in 2:04:24, the fourth fastest time ever in Chicago. He contested the Boston Marathon earlier this year and achieved another podium finish, placing third in 2:06:06. He returned to Boston two months later and raced over 10km, setting a PB of 28:39.
Other Kenyans in the race include John Korir was third in Chicago last year in a personal best time of 2:05:01, and he’ll be looking to at least match that performance, if not improve on it.
Daniel Mateiko who paced the London Marathon earlier this year and was second at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon will make his debut in Chicago, as will Wesley Kiptoo.
Other tough competitors top watch out in the race include Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura, winner in Chicago in 2021 and runner-up last year.
Return for a third consecutive year
He will return for the third consecutive year, looking for another podium finish. His last race was at the London Marathon where he finished fifth in 2:06:38. His PB of 2:04:29, set at the 2021 Milan Marathon, makes him the sixth-fastest man in the field.
Ethiopian duo Dawit Wolde and Kinde Atanaw will line up in Chicago with something of a point to prove. Wolde started in Chicago last year but failed to finish. Atanaw, meanwhile, was a DNF in his most recent race, the London Marathon.
Belgium’s world and Olympic bronze medallist Bashir Abdi, winner of this year’s Rotterdam Marathon, is also in the line-up and is the second-fastest entrant on PBs. He warmed up for Chicago by racing the Great South Run, where he finished second in 1:01:20.
Men’s Elite Field
Kelvin Kiptum (KEN) 2:01:25
Bashir Abdi (BEL) 2:03:36
Kinde Atenaw (ETH) 2:03:51
Benson Kipruto (KEN) 2:04:24
Dawit Wolde (ETH) 2:04:27
Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:04:29
John Korir (KEN) 2:05:01
Huseydin Mohamed (ETH) 2:05:05
Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:07
Leonard Korir (USA) 2:07:56
Conner Mantz (USA) 2:08:16
Yuki Matsumura (JPN) 2:09:01
Takashi Ichida (JPN) 2:09:15
Matt McDonald (USA) 2:09:49
Mick Iacofano (USA) 2:09:55
Masashi Nonaka (JPN) 2:09:57
Daniel Mateiko (KEN) debut
Wesley Kiptoo (KEN) debut
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