The 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon elite athlete lineup will feature one of the race’s fastest finishers returning to defend his title alongside three other competitors looking for repeat victories as they face off against “one of the deepest fields in race history.”
Race organizers announced Thursday that last year’s champion, Jacob Kiplimo, who finished with the second-fastest performance in Chicago Marathon history in 2025, will join defending women’s champion Hawi Feysa in going for another victorious October finish.
But they’ll be up against some of marathon racing’s biggest stars.
“Winning Chicago was a special moment, but defending the title means even more,” Kiplimo said in a statement. “My preparation has given me a lot of confidence, and having raced this course before is a real advantage. Right now, I believe I’m capable of competing with anyone in the world, and I’m coming to Chicago with the ambition to prove it once again.”
Among those toeing the line with Kiplimo will be two runners who joined Kiplimo on the podium in the 2025 Chicago Marathon: Amos Kipruto and Alex Masai, who please second and third, respectively.
New challengers include 2024 Berlin champion Milkesa Mengesha, Tokyo champion Tedese Tekele Bikila and several others — many of whom have already broken 2:04 for their marathon time.
Rising American star Charles Hicks, who recently ran the second-fastest marathon ever run by an American at the Boston Marathon this year, will headline a strong slew of U.S. runners joining this year’s field.
“The Chicago Marathon has always captivated me,” Hicks said in a statement. “I love the city, the energy, and so many of my friends and family live there. But most importantly, it’s a place where people run fast, and I want to put myself in a position to be a part of that.”
On the women’s side, Feysa, who finished 2025’s race a full two minutes ahead of the competition, will look for a road to yet another victory in Chicago.
“I believe it will be even more difficult this year to repeat, but I am preparing very well and am confident I will arrive at the start line in good form,” Feysa said in a statement. “Chicago is known for being fast and fiercely competitive, so I hope to run a personal best. But the most important thing is to fight for a place on the podium.”
She’ll face former world record holder, and two-time Chicago Marathon champion, Brigid Kosgei, who will return for the first time since her “dominant” 2019 victory.
Another big name in the sports world, Sharon Lokedi will make her Chicago debut alongside Chicago Marathon veterans Sutume Kebede and Megertu Alemu. The American women will be led by Susanna Sullivan and Natasha Rogers, who have each set personal bests during the Chicago race.
“I’ve made some incredible memories at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” Sullivan, who first raced in Chicago in 2022, said in a statement. “I can’t wait to return and make some more.”
Wheelchair powerhouse Marcel Hug, aka the “Silver Bullet,” will look to continue an historic victory streak in Chicago, having won his last four races in the city and who set a course record in 2023.
“I’m really excited to be back in Chicago – it’s a course I love, fast and flat, and the crowd support here is always incredible,” he said. “I’m looking forward to racing alongside other great athletes again and seeing what’s possible this year.”
But he’ll face his biggest Windy City rival Daniel Romanchuk, the only other man to finish with a victory in the men’s wheelchair division in the last 10 years.
Defending women’s wheelchair champion Susannah Scaroni took the 2026 race off to welcome her first child, but three other women who have won the division since 2015 will battle for their chance at another medal. That includes nine-time champion Tatyana McFadden and two-time champions Manuela Schär and Catherine Debrunner.
“I’m really looking forward to racing the 2026 Chicago Marathon. Chicago will always be special to me because it was where I ran my first marathon, and the energy of the city and the fans is unforgettable,” said McFadden, the most decorated athlete in event history. “Hopefully, I can compete for another major marathon win, but more than anything, it’s the strength of the field and the challenge of racing the best that keeps bringing me back.”
The 48th annual running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is set to step off on Oct. 11 with more than 55,000 runners.
See the full elite lineup below:
Professional Men’s Field
Jacob Kiplimo, UGA, 2:00:28 (London, 2026) NR Amos Kipruto, KEN, 2:01:39 (London, 2026) Milkesa Mengesha, ETH, 2:03:17 (Berlin, 2024) Tadese Takele Bikila, ETH, 2:03:23 (Tokyo, 2025) Daniel Mateiko, KEN, 2:03:44 (Tokyo, 2026) Asrar Hiyrden, ETH, 2:03:59 (Seville, 2026) Charles Hicks, USA, 2:04:35 (Boston, 2026) Alex Masai, KEN, 2:04:37 (Chicago, 2025) Suguru Osako, JPN, 2:04:55 (Valencia, 2025) Mohamed Reda El Aaraby, MOR, 2:05:18 (Hamburg, 2026) Clayton Young, USA, 2:05:41 (Boston, 2026) Vincent Mauri, USA, 2:05:54 (Toledo, 2026) Yemane Haileselassie, ERI, 2:06:06 (Boston, 2026) Galen Rupp, USA, 2:06:07 (Prague, 2018) Akira Akasaki, JPN, 2:06:15 (Berlin, 2025) Boki Diriba, ETH, 2:06:26 (Doha, 2026) Hendrik Pfeiffer, GER, 2:06:34 (Boston, 2026) Abbabiya Simbassa, USA, 2:06:53 (Valencia, 2024) Tsegay Weldibanos, ERI, 2:07:35 (Sacramento, 2024) Haftu Knight, USA, 2:07:38 (Boston, 2026) Patrick Tiernan, AUS, 2:07:45 (Houston, 2024) Kiyoshi Koga, JPN, 2:07:46 (Oita, 2026) CJ Albertson, USA, 2:08:17 (Chicago, 2024) Daniel Mesfun, USA, 2:08:24 (Seville, 2026) Alex Maier, USA, 2:08:33 (Dusseldorf, 2025) Murphy Smith, USA, 2:08:58 (Boston, 2026) Zach Panning, USA, 2:09:16 (Chicago, 2024) Jorge Castelblanco, PAN, 2:09:24 (Seville, 2024) NR Thomas Nobbs, CAN, 2:09:25 (Congers, 2026) Nadeel Wildschutt, RSA, 2:09:40 (Chandler, 2025) Jorge Luis Cruz, MEX, 2:09:43 (Valencia, 2025) Reed Fischer, USA, 2:09:47 (Seville, 2026) Jacob Thomson, USA, 2:09:51 (Boston, 2026) Ryan Johnson, USA, 2:10:20 (Boston, 2026) Tesfu Tewelde, ERI, 2:10:21 (Minneapolis, 2024) Thomas Fafard, CAN, 2:10:29 (Chandler, 2025) Chris Maxon, USA, 2:10:55 (Sacramento, 2025) Benjamin Flanagan, CAN, 2:15:39 (Toronto, 2025) Brian Kibor, KEN, Debut Tomoki Ota, JPN, Debut Kieran Tuntivate, THA, Debut Adriaan Wildschutt, RSA, DebutProfessional Women’s Field
Brigid Kosgei, KEN, 2:14:04 (Chicago, 2019) Hawi Feysa, ETH, 2:14:57 (Chicago, 2025) Sutume Kebede, ETH, 2:15:55 (Tokyo, 2024) Megertu Alemu, ETH, 2:16:34 (London, 2024) Brillian Kipkoech, KEN, 2:17:05 (Hamburg, 2026) Sharon Lokedi, KEN, 2:17:22 (Boston, 2025) Degitu Azimeraw, ETH, 2:17:58 (London, 2021) Loice Chemnung, KEN, 2:18:24 (Chicago, 2025) Joan Kilimo, KEN, 2:18:40 (Barcelona, 2026) Magdalyne Masai, KEN, 2:18:58 (Frankfurt, 2024) Fantu Worku, ETH, 2:19:08 (Dubai, 2026) Mary Ngugi Cooper, KEN, 2:19:26 (Chicago, 2025) Sara Hall, USA, 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020) Yuka Akasaki, JPN, 2:21:33 (Osaka, 2025) Susanna Sullivan, USA, 2:21:56 (Chicago, 2024) Des Linden, USA, 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011) Isobel Batt-Doyle, AUS, 2:22:59 (Valencia, 2024) Natosha Rogers, USA, 2:23:28 (Chicago, 2025) Molly Born, USA, 2:24:10 (Sacramento, 2025) Dakotah Popehn, USA, 2:24:20 (Chicago, 2025) Gabriella Rooker, USA, 2:24:29 (Chicago, 2024) Elena Hayday, USA, 2:24:45 (Boston, 2026) Jess Warner-Judd, GBR, 2:24:45 (New York, 2025) Kristine Eikrem Engeset, NOR, 2:28:57 (Tokyo, 2026) Amanda Mosborg, USA, 2:32:01 (Indianapolis, 2025) Felicia Pasadyn, USA, 2:35:17 (New York, 2025) Alexandra Aldana, COL, 2:40:41 (Cali, 2025) Laura Galvan, MEX, Debut Emma Grace Hurley, USA, Debut Amy-Eloise Neale, GBR, DebutProfessional Men’s Wheelchair Field (T53/T54)
Marcel Hug, SUI, 1:15:33 (Boston, 2024) Aaron Pike, USA, 1:20:02 (Duluth, 2022) JohnBoy Smith, GBR, 1:20:05 (Duluth, 2022) Daniel Romanchuk, USA, 1:20:37 (Boston, 2024) Rafael Botello Jimenez, ESP, 1:22:09 (Boston, 2017) David Weir, GBR, 1:22:12 (Boston, 2024) Patrick Monahan, IRL, 1:22:23 (Duluth, 2019) Miguel Jimenez Vergara, USA, 1:22:24 (Duluth, 2024) Jetze Plat, NED, 1:24:28 (Dubai, 2023) Brian Siemann, USA, 1:26:46 (Boston, 2017) Evan Correll, USA, 1:27:19 (Duluth, 2022) Jason Robinson, USA, 1:29:01 (Duluth, 2022) Simon Lawson, GBR, 1:25:06 (Boston, 2017) Tiaan Bosch, RSA, 1:33:17 (Duluth, 2024) Lito Anker, NED, 1:33:53 (Berlin, 2024)Professional Men’s Wheelchair Field (T51/T52)
Robert Smith, GBR, 1:55:51 (Dubai, 2017) Norbert Holowat, USA, 2:13:16 (Duluth, 2025)Professional Women’s Wheelchair Field (T53/T54)
Manuela Schär, SUI, 1:28:17 (Boston, 2017) Tatyana McFadden, USA, 1:31:30 (Duluth, 2019) Catherine Debrunner, SUI, 1:34:16 (Berlin, 2023) WR Eden Rainbow Cooper, GBR, 1:34:17 (Berlin, 2023) Jenna Fesemyer, USA, 1:33:50 (Duluth, 2022) Patricia Eachus, SUI, 1:40:22 (Boston, 2024) Hoda Elshorbagy, EGY, 1:47:32 (Boston, 2024) Eva Houston, USA, 1:59:49 (Duluth, 2022) Hannah Dederick, USA, 2:02:23 (Chicago, 2022) Rachel Cleaver, USA, 2:23:38 (Chicago, 2025)Hence then, the article about 2026 chicago marathon elite lineup one of the deepest fields in race history was published today ( ) and is available on NBC Chicago ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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