The 47th Chicago Marathon returns Sunday, with more than 53,000 runners set to compete.
The race will being in waves starting around 7:20 a.m. in Grant Park. The 26.2-mile course takes runners through 29 neighborhoods, with the course mostly covering long, straight roads. The flat course is advantageous for runners, which is the main reason six world records have been set at the event.
The marathon will be broadcast on NBC 5.
Last year, Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich set the record in the women’s open division (2:09:56). In 2023, Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum — who died in a road accident in 2024 — set a world record in the men’s open division (2:00:35).
How will Mantz perform?
The No. 1 marathon runner in the United States is Conner Mantz. The BYU alum has his eyes set on breaking the 23-year-old American record of 2:05:38, set by Khalid Khannouchi at the 2002 London Marathon.
But the fastest an American has ran on a 26.2-mile course was Ryan Hall’s 2:04:58 in 2011 at the Boston Marathon. Mantz ran his first marathon at the 2022 Chicago Marathon. He finished seventh at the event and recorded the second-fastest debut time by an American.
Since then, Mantz has remained competitive, but now he’s on a different level. He finished fourth at the Boston Marathon (2:05:08) and won the U.S. 20K championships in an American record time of 56:16.
Monitoring Mantz’s performance is a key storyline at the marathon.
Defending men’s champion
The 2024 Chicago Marathon champion, John Korir, returns to defend his title in a loaded field this year. Korir, 27, won last year’s race with a time of 2:02:44. He’s the younger brother of 2012 Boston Marathon winner Wesley Korir.
But Korir is a favorite to repeat as champion after winning the Boston Marathon this year. He didn’t begin running seriously until his 20s, so there’s still potential for him to tap into. He’s also ambitious and has eyes set on a goal larger than just defending his title. Korir wants to run a sub-2:01, which only Kiptum has accomplished.
The men’s field is deep with worthy challengers. Kenya’s Timothy Kipglat is the second-fastest runner in the division with a personal best of 2:02:55. Amos Kipruto, who finished third in last year’s race, will also be contending for the top spot.
Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo is running his second marathon after a runner-up finish in London earlier this year.
New women’s champion
There will be a new women’s champion crowned after the 2024 winner, Chepngetich, was suspended following a positive drug test.
The favorite to grab the crown is Ethiopia’s Megertu Alemu, who finished third at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. Last year, she ran a personal best time of 2:16:34 at the London Marathon.
Alemu’s fellow Ethiopian, Hawi Feysa, will be a worthy challenger. Both Alemu and Feysa are the fastest in the field, but neither has a Major marathon win under their belt.
Ejgayehu Taye, who is making her marathon debut after competing in several half-marathons.