The Chicago Marathon, one of the six World Marathon Majors,[1] has been contested by men and women annually since 1977.[2] Since 1983, it has been held annually in October.[2] The United States had been represented by the most Chicago Marathon winners in the open division (nine men and twelve women). At 32 victories (20 men and 12 women) in the open division, Kenya has the second most winners and is tied with the United States for female victors, and Kenyan men have won more times than men representing any other country, including nine victories in a row from 2003 through 2011. The United Kingdom and Ethiopia are tied for third place in total victories in the open division at nine, while Switzerland is second behind the United States's 57 victories in the wheelchair division with 11. All four of Brazil's victors have been men, and all three of Portugal's winners have been women.

History

The first six pairs of races were swept by the United States.[3] Runners representing the United Kingdom won both races in 1996 (Paul Evans and Marian Sutton).[4] Kenya has been victorious in both races twice (1998 and 2001) and is the most recent country to do so, with representatives Ben Kimondiu and Catherine Ndereba.[3] Deena Kastor, the 2005 female winner, is the last victor from the host nation. Although four-time winner Khalid Khannouchi represented the United States during his 2000 and 2002 victories after becoming an American citizen,[5] the last American-born male winner prior to 2017 was Greg Meyer.[6][7] Galen Rupp became the first American-born male to win the race in 35 years with his 2017 victory.[8] 1979 winner Laura Michalek of the United States was just 15 years old.[2]

Khannouchi's four victories is the most by any contestant. There have been several two-time winners including Khannouchi, five men and six women. Four of the five male two-time winners have been consecutive winners (most recently Evans Rutto in 2002 and 2003), and six of the seven two-time female victors have been consecutive (most recently Berhane Adere in 2006 and 2007). No one other than Khannouchi has won three races and no one has won three consecutively.[2]

The world record for the marathon had been set six times: three male and three female world records. The United Kingdom has had both a male and a female fastest marathon world record in Chicago. The women's world record was once set by Paula Radcliffe, who succeeded Catherine Ndereba as a world record holder in 2002.[2] The record has been set in 2019 by Brigid Kosgei. Khannouchi set the last male fastest marathon world record in the Chicago Marathon in 1999.[2] After Ndereba set the record in 2001, both the men's and women's current fastest marathon world records had been set in the Chicago Marathon.[9][10]

Winners

Legend
‡ Course record
Year Male athlete Country Time Female athlete Country Time Ref.
1977 Dan Cloeter  United States 2:17:52 Dorothy Doolittle  United States 2:50:47 [11]
1978 Mark Stanforth  United States 2:19:20 Lynae Larson  United States 2:59:25 [11]
1979 Dan Cloeter  United States 2:23:20 Laura Michalek  United States 3:15:45 [11]
1980 Frank Richardson  United States 2:14:04 Sue Petersen  United States 2:45:03 [11]
1981 Phil Coppess  United States 2:16:13 Tina Gandy  United States 2:49:39 [11]
1982 Greg Meyer  United States 2:10:59 Nancy Conz  United States 2:33:23 [11]
1983 Joseph Nzau  Kenya 2:09:44 Rosa Mota  Portugal 2:31:12 [11]
1984 Steve Jones  United Kingdom 2:08:05 WR Rosa Mota  Portugal 2:26:01 [11]
1985 Steve Jones  United Kingdom 2:07:13 Joan Benoit  United States 2:21:21 [11]
1986 Toshihiko Seko  Japan 2:08:27 Ingrid Kristiansen  Norway 2:27:08 [11]
1987 marathon distance not held due to sponsorship issues[a] [12]
1988 Alejandro Cruz  Mexico 2:08:57 Lisa Weidenbach  United States 2:29:17 [11]
1989 Paul Davies-Hale  United Kingdom 2:11:25 Lisa Weidenbach  United States 2:28:15 [11]
1990 Martín Pitayo  Mexico 2:09:41 Aurora Cunha  Portugal 2:30:11 [11]
1991 Joseildo Rocha  Brazil 2:14:33 Midde Hamrin  Sweden 2:36:21 [11]
1992 Jose Cesar de Souza  Brazil 2:16:14 Linda Somers  United States 2:37:41 [11]
1993 Luíz Antônio  Brazil 2:13:14 Ritva Lemettinen  Finland 2:33:18 [11]
1994 Luíz Antônio  Brazil 2:11:16 Kristy Johnston  United States 2:31:34 [11]
1995 Eamonn Martin  United Kingdom 2:11:18 Ritva Lemettinen  Finland 2:28:27 [11]
1996 Paul Evans  United Kingdom 2:08:52 Marian Sutton  United Kingdom 2:30:41 [11]
1997 Khalid Khannouchi  Morocco 2:07:10 Marian Sutton  United Kingdom 2:29:03 [11]
1998 Ondoro Osoro  Kenya 2:06:54 Joyce Chepchumba  Kenya 2:23:57 [11]
1999 Khalid Khannouchi  Morocco 2:05:42 WR Joyce Chepchumba  Kenya 2:25:59 [11]
2000 Khalid Khannouchi  United States 2:07:01 Catherine Ndereba  Kenya 2:21:33 [11]
2001 Ben Kimondiu  Kenya 2:08:52 Catherine Ndereba  Kenya 2:18:47 WR [11]
2002 Khalid Khannouchi  United States 2:05:56 Paula Radcliffe  United Kingdom 2:17:18 WR [11]
2003 Evans Rutto  Kenya 2:05:50 Svetlana Zakharova  Russia 2:23:07 [11]
2004 Evans Rutto  Kenya 2:06:16 Constantina Diță  Romania 2:23:45 [11]
2005 Felix Limo  Kenya 2:07:02 Deena Kastor  United States 2:21:25 [11]
2006 Robert Cheruiyot  Kenya 2:07:35 Berhane Adere  Ethiopia 2:20:42 [11]
2007 Patrick Ivuti  Kenya 2:11:11 Berhane Adere  Ethiopia 2:33:49 [11]
2008 Evans Cheruiyot  Kenya 2:06:25 Lidiya Grigoryeva  Russia 2:27:17 [11]
2009 Samuel Wanjiru  Kenya 2:05:41 Irina Mikitenko[b]  Germany 2:26:31 [11]
2010 Samuel Wanjiru  Kenya 2:06:23 Atsede Baysa[b]  Ethiopia 2:23:40 [11]
2011 Moses Mosop  Kenya 2:05:37 Ejegayehu Dibaba[b]  Ethiopia 2:22:09 [11]
2012 Tsegaye Kebede  Ethiopia 2:04:38 Atsede Baysa  Ethiopia 2:22:03 [11]
2013 Dennis Kimetto  Kenya 2:03:45 Rita Jeptoo  Kenya 2:19:57 [11]
2014 Eliud Kipchoge  Kenya 2:04:11 Mare Dibaba[c]  Ethiopia 2:25:37 [11]
2015 Dickson Chumba  Kenya 2:09:25 Florence Kiplagat  Kenya 2:23:33 [11]
2016 Abel Kirui  Kenya 2:11:23 Florence Kiplagat  Kenya 2:21:32 [11]
2017 Galen Rupp  United States 2:09:20 Tirunesh Dibaba  Ethiopia 2:18:31 [11]
2018 Mo Farah  United Kingdom 2:05:11 Brigid Kosgei  Kenya 2:18:35 [15]
2019 Lawrence Cherono  Kenya 2:05:45 Brigid Kosgei  Kenya 2:14:04 WR [15]
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [16]
2021 Seifu Tura  Ethiopia 2:06:12 Ruth Chepngetich  Kenya 2:22:31 [17]
2022 Benson Kipruto  Kenya 2:04:24 Ruth Chepngetich  Kenya 2:14:18 [15]
2023 Kelvin Kiptum  Kenya 2:00:35‡ WR Sifan Hassan  Netherlands 2:13:44 [18]
2024 John Korir  Kenya 2:02:43 Ruth Chepngetich  Kenya 2:09:56‡ WR [15]
2025 Jacob Kiplimo  Uganda 2:02:23 Hawi Feysa  Ethiopia 2:14:56 [15]

Wheelchair division

Year Male athlete Country Time Female athlete Country Time Ref.
1984 Robert Fitch  United States 2:35:06 Jonnie Baylark  United States 3:29:10 [11]
1985 Robert Fitch  United States 2:23:41 Jayne Fortson  United States 2:52:22 [11]
1986 Bart Bardwell  United States 2:10:19 Jonnie Baylark  United States 3:23:32 [11]
1987 marathon distance not held due to sponsorship issues[a] [12]
1988 Ken Luckenbaugh  United States 2:12:17 — [19]
1989 Scot Hollonbeck  United States 1:45:30 Ann Cody-Morris  United States 1:58:51 [11]
1990 Jim Knaub  United States 1:42:34 Ann Cody-Morris  United States 1:53:33 [11]
1991 Philippe Couprie  France 1:41:21 Ann Walters  United States 1:57:17 [11]
1992 Vern Achenbach  United States 1:44:28 Ann Walters  United States 1:44:29 [11]
1993 James Briggs  United States 1:42:03 Ann Walters  United States 1:57:34 [11]
1994 James Briggs  United States 1:32:14 Ann Walters  United States 1:59:45 [11]
1995 James Briggs
Scot Hollonbeck		  United States
 United States		 1:37:12 Ann Walters  United States 1:57:27 [11]
1996 Jacob Heilveil  United States 1:39:57 Ann Walters  United States 1:52:13 [11]
1997 Saul Mendoza  United States 1:37:42 Candace Cable  United States 1:57:32 [11]
1998 Franz Nietlispach  Switzerland 1:34:22 Candace Cable  United States 1:58:32 [11]
1999 Saul Mendoza  United States 1:37:03 Miriam Nibley  United States 2:03:44 [11]
2000 Tony Iniguez  United States 1:41:00 no competitors [11]
2001 Tony Iniguez  United States 1:37:59 Christina Ripp  United States 1:56:58 [11]
2002 Adam Bleakney  United States 1:40:14 Tricia Downing  United States 1:52:50 [11]
2003 Joshua George  United States 1:41:01 Christina Ripp  United States 1:56:33 [11]
2004 Joshua George  United States 1:36:13 Miriam Nibley  United States 2:05:51 [11]
2005 Krige Schabort  South Africa 1:29:40 Miriam Ladner  United States 2:01:37 [11]
2006 Joshua George  United States 1:38:31 Miriam Lander  United States 2:04:21 [11]
2007 Kurt Fearnley  Australia 1:28:06 Amanda McGrory  United States 1:45:27 [11]
2008 Kurt Fearnley  Australia 1:30:16 Amanda McGrory  United States 1:55:12 [11]
2009 Kurt Fearnley  Australia 1:29:09 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:50:47 [11]
2010 Heinz Frei  Switzerland 1:26:56 Amanda McGrory  United States 1:47:25 [11]
2011 Kurt Fearnley  Australia 1:29:18 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:45:03 [11]
2012 Josh Cassidy  Canada 1:32:58 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:49:52 [11]
2013 Ernst Van Dyk  South Africa 1:30:37 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:42:35 [11]
2014 Joshua George  United States 1:32:12 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:44:50 [11]
2015 Kurt Fearnley  Australia 1:30:46 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:41:10 [11]
2016 Marcel Hug  Switzerland 1:32:57 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:42:28 [11]
2017 Marcel Hug  Switzerland 1:29:23 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:39:15 [11]
2018 Daniel Romanchuk  United States 1:31:34 Manuela Schar  Switzerland 1:41:38 [15]
2019 Daniel Romanchuk  United States 1:30:26 Manuela Schar  Switzerland 1:41:08 [20]
2020 cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic [16]
2021 Daniel Romanchuk  United States 1:29:07 Tatyana McFadden  United States 1:48:57 [21]
2022 Marcel Hug  Switzerland 1:25:20 Susannah Scaroni  United States 1:45:48 [15]
2023 Marcel Hug  Switzerland 1:22:37‡ Catherine Debrunner  Switzerland 1:38:44‡ [15]
2024 Marcel Hug  Switzerland 1:25:54 Catherine Debrunner  Switzerland 1:36:12 [15]
2025 Marcel Hug  Switzerland 1:23:20 Susannah Scaroni  United States 1:38:14 [15]

Country summary

Total winners by country
Country Open division Wheelchair division Total
Male Female Male Female
 United States 9 12 24 33 78
 Kenya 20 12 0 0 32
 Switzerland 0 0 7 4 11
 Ethiopia 2 7 0 0 9
 United Kingdom 6 3 0 0 9
 Australia 0 0 5 0 5
 Brazil 4 0 0 0 4
 Portugal 0 3 0 0 3
 Finland 0 2 0 0 2
 Mexico 2 0 0 0 2
 Morocco 2 0 0 0 2
 Russia 0 2 0 0 2
 South Africa 0 0 2 0 2
 Canada 0 0 1 0 1
 France 0 0 1 0 1
 Germany 0 1 0 0 1
 Japan 1 0 0 0 1
 Netherlands 0 1 0 0 1
 Norway 0 1 0 0 1
 Romania 0 1 0 0 1
 Sweden 0 1 0 0 1

Notes

  1. The event was contested as a half marathon.[12]
  2. Liliya Shobukhova finished first in 2009, 2010 and 2011 but was subsequently disqualified and records erased because of a positive drug test. Her penalty was announced in 2014.[13]
  3. Rita Jeptoo tested positive in an out-of-competition drug test for EPO on September 25, 2014. The drug test was confirmed in December 20, 2014, and her two-year suspension was made retroactive to the date of the positive test, which was before the Chicago Marathon, on October 12, 2014 when she had originally finished first in 2:24:35.[14]

References

  1. "About World Marathon Majors". World Marathon Majors.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  2. "Race History". Bank of America Corporation. Archived from the original on February 22, 2009.
  3. "Chicago Marathon winners". Chicago Tribune. Newsbank. October 8, 2001. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021.
  4. "Brits reign over Chicago Marathon". Chicago Sun-Times. Newsbank. October 21, 1996. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021.
  5. Hamel, Larry (October 11, 2002). "Khalid: Great to be back – Popular Khannouchi returns to Chicago, where infatuation continues to increase". Chicago Sun-Times. Newsbank. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021.
  6. "Past Men's Champions". Chicago Tribune. Newsbank. October 13, 2009. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021.
  7. "Past Women's Champions". Chicago Tribune. Newsbank. October 13, 2009. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021.
  8. Ryan, Shannon. "Galen Rupp leads strong showing for American runners at Chicago Marathon". chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2017.
  9. Hersh, Philip and Marlen Garcia (October 8, 2001). "Chicago makes case as world's premier race – But TV coverage still has room for improvement". Chicago Tribune. Newsbank. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021.
  10. "Women's Marathon Record Falls Quickly Ndereba Tops Week-old Mark In Chicago". Akron Beacon Journal. Newsbank. October 8, 2001. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021.
  11. "Bank of America Chicago Marathon Sunday, October 7, 2018" (PDF). Chicago Marathon. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 10, 2021.
  13. "Liliya Shobukhova: Russian runner ordered to repay £377K to London Marathon". BBC Sport. July 19, 2016. Archived from the original on July 22, 2016.
  14. "Rita Jeptoo banned 2 years". ESPN. January 30, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  15. "Bank of America Chicago Marathon". Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
  16. "2020 Event Cancellation". Chicago Marathon. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020.
  17. "Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Results". Mika timing.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  18. OlympicTalk (October 8, 2023). "Kelvin Kiptum breaks marathon world record at Chicago Marathon, nears 2-hour barrier". NBC Sports. NBC.
  19. Hersh, Phil (October 31, 1988). "Top 3 women's finishers gain some consolation". Chicago Tribune. p. 16.
  20. "2019 Chicago Marathon results". NBC Sports. October 13, 2019. Archived from the original on December 8, 2019.
  21. "Bank of America Chicago Marathon: Results". Mika timing.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)