Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba, Seifu Tura lead strong fields in Chicago Marathon

Addis Ababa, July 26, 2023 (FBC) – Organisers of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon have announced the full elite field for the World Athletics Elite Platinum Label road race on 8 October.

Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura – winner in Chicago in 2021 and runner-up last year – will return for the third consecutive year, looking for another podium finish. Belgium’s world and Olympic bronze medallist Bashir Abdi – winner of this year’s Rotterdam Marathon – is also in the line-up.

A regular podium finisher in major marathons over the past two years, Benson Kipruto of Kenya will defend his title in the men’s race. Kipruto won last year in 2:04:24, the fourth fastest time ever in Chicago.

Fellow Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum – the second-fastest man in history – will make his US marathon debut in Chicago. Kiptum won this year’s London Marathon, only his second marathon ever, in 2:01:25, just 16 seconds shy of the world record.

Ethiopia’s Dawit Wolde, Huseydin Mohamed, Milkesa Mengesha, Brazil’s Daniel Do Nascimento and Kenya’s John Korir are among the other notable entries.

As announced last month, Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia and defending champion Ruth Chepngetich will take on London Marathon champion Sifan Hassan and US record-holder Emily Sisson in the women’s race. But that trio is just the tip of the iceberg.

Genzebe – who has broken several world records on the track, indoors and out – made her marathon debut in Amsterdam last year, clocking 2:18:05.

Joyciline Jepkosgei, winner of the 2021 London Marathon and 2019 New York City Marathon, will make her Chicago debut.

Other notable competitors in the women’s field include Ethiopia’s Ababel Yesheneh, Sutume Kebede, Tigist Girma, and US duo Nell Rojas, Sara Vaughn.