The 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto and two-time Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi will take centre stage this weekend as they spearhead Kenya’s charge at the Chicago Marathon.
In his bid for the Chicago crown, however, Kipruto faces a stern test from Uganda’s defending champion Jacob Kiplimo, with the Kenyan keen on asserting his dominance over his regional rival after last year’s race.
At last year’s Chicago Marathon, Kiplimo stormed to victory in 2:02:23, comfortably holding off Kipruto, who finished second in 2:03:54. Alex Masai completed the podium after clocking 2:04:37.
Kipruto has already expressed his excitement at returning to the streets of Chicago, a course where he has twice finished on the podium. “I have a lot of love for Chicago, and I think it’s one of the greatest cities in the world,” said Kipruto. He also highlighted the quality and depth of the assembled field, adding: “What an incredible field.”
The two distance stars head back to Chicago after rekindling their rivalry early in the year at the London Marathon on April 26. On that occasion, Kiplimo finished third in 2:00:28, while Kipruto followed home in fourth in 2:01:39.
Kipruto’s training partner, Sebastian Sawe, stole the headlines by shattering the men’s marathon world record, becoming the first man in history to break the two-hour barrier with a sensational 1:59:30. Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha finished second in London in 1:59:41.
After his London run, Kipruto briefly switched to the track, lining up in the men’s 5,000m at the National Police Service (NPS) Track and Field Championships on May 20, where he finished fourth in 14:02.12. Andrew Alamisi won the race in 13:49.98, ahead of Stephen Kipkech (13:55.22) and Naibei Mayebei (13:57.01).
Kipruto is no stranger to the Chicago course, having made his debut there in 2024 and immediately podiumed. He clocked 2:04:50 to finish behind compatriot John Korir, who won in 2:02:44, and Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa, who was second in 2:04:39.
Meanwhile, Kiplimo heads to Chicago riding a rich vein of form after opening his season with victory at the World Cross Country Championships in 28:18.
He then underlined his versatility and speed by setting the men’s half marathon world record in Lisbon, clocking 57:20. Kejelcha later eclipsed the mark after clocking 56:51 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in August. In Chicago, Kipruto will be joined by fellow Kenyans Daniel Mateiko and last year’s third-place finisher Alex Masai.
Adding further depth to the men’s field is a formidable Ethiopian contingent spearheaded by 2024 Berlin Marathon champion Milkesa Mengesha. Two-time Tokyo Marathon champion Tadese Takele and Asrar Hiyrden will join him. In the women’s race, Lokedi will be making her maiden appearance on the Chicago course.
While still unfamiliar with the Chicago streets, Lokedi brings vast experience of racing major marathons on American soil. Her impressive résumé includes back-to-back Boston Marathon titles in 2025 and 2026, the 2022 New York Marathon crown, alongside runner-up finishes in Boston in 2024 and New York in 2025.
Lokedi enters the Chicago showdown in top form on the roads this year. Her season has seen her finish second at the New York Half Marathon in 1:07:10 before successfully defending her Boston crown in 2:18:51.
Her progress hit a minor stumbling block at the New York 10K, where she faded to seventh in 31:44, before bouncing back strongly to win the Boston 10K in 31:28. However, Lokedi’s charge for the crown faces stern opposition from one of Kenya’s most accomplished female distance stars, Brigid Kosgei. Kosgei returns to a course etched in her legacy, having smashed the women’s marathon world record in Chicago in 2019.
The 32-year-old produced her historic 2:14:04 performance at the 2019 Chicago Marathon after winning the 2018 edition in 2:18:35. “Seven years after my world record, I am excited to return to Chicago — the place where history became reality. Looking forward to being back on the incredible streets,” Kosgei shared on her social media platforms.
Adding further depth to the women’s field is defending champion Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia, who will be determined to retain the title she claimed last year after triumphing in 2:14:57.
