Kenya’s Amos Kipruto produced a commanding performance to win the men’s race at the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 11, while Sharon Lokedi and Brigid Kosgei secured second and third places in the women’s contest to underline the country’s dominance in long-distance running.

Kipruto clocked an unofficial personal best of 2:01:09, ending Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo’s reign as champion and avenging his defeat to the Ugandan in last year’s race.

The Kenyan’s victory completed a remarkable progression in Chicago, having finished third in 2024 and second in 2025 before finally claiming the title. His latest time shaved 30 seconds off his previous personal best, lifting him to joint fifth on the world all-time marathon list alongside compatriot Eliud Kipchoge.

The 2019 World Championships bronze medallist also secured his second World Marathon Major title, adding the Chicago crown to his London Marathon triumph in 2022.

Kiplimo, who returned to defend his title, finished fourth in 2:04:18, behind Ethiopia’s Tadese Bikila, who clocked 2:02:56 for second, and Milkesa Mengesha, who completed the podium in 2:03:46.

President William Ruto congratulated the Kenyan athletes following their impressive performances. “We salute Team Kenya for making us proud at the Chicago Marathon,” he said.

In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa successfully defended her title in a personal-best 2:13:33 after holding off a determined challenge from Lokedi in the closing stages.

Lokedi clocked 2:14:07 to finish second on her Chicago Marathon debut, coming within 34 seconds of the winner. The performance marked another milestone in her career, setting a personal best and moving her to eighth on the women’s world all-time marathon list.

The Kenyan arrived in Chicago in impressive form after winning the Boston Marathon in both 2025 and 2026. Although she missed out on another major title, her runner-up finish strengthened her credentials among the world’s leading marathon runners.

Kosgei completed the podium in 2:14:55, creating a historic top three in which all three women broke the two-hour-15-minute barrier.

Kenya’s depth was further demonstrated by Mary Ngugi-Cooper, who finished fourth in 2:17:23, and Joan Kilimo, who placed fifth in 2:18:39. The results gave Kenya four athletes in the women’s top five, with only Feysa preventing a Kenyan sweep of the leading positions.

The Chicago results once again highlighted Kenya’s strength on the global marathon stage, with Kipruto’s breakthrough victory and the women’s impressive collective performance providing a memorable day for the country’s distance-running fraternity.