The Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced today that several international running stars are joining the 41st annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon elite athlete competition. Past champions Abel Kirui (KEN) and Dickson Chumba (KEN) lead the charge on the mens side, and 2017 runner-up Brigid Kosgei (KEN) and two-time podium finisher Birhane Dibaba (ETH) stand out among the women. They will join previously announced global sensations Mo Farah (GBR), Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) and Suguru Osako (JPN).
This years elite field includes 11 men who have run 2:07 or faster and nine women (including three Americans) who have run 2:25 or faster. Moreover, it features five of the top eight men who placed on top of the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) Series XI leaderboard and two of the top seven women.
“We have put together an exciting elite field, and it should be a fast race to the top of the podium,” said Bank of America Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. ”This years elite field is a collection of some of the best international and American athletes running on the global stage today. We are confident that they will continue the great tradition of memorable and record setting performances in Chicago.”
International mens elite field
Name Mosinet Geremew Birhanu Legese Dickson Chumba Abel Kirui Kenneth Kipkemoi Paul Lonyangata Mo Farah Geoffrey Kirui Suguru Osako Bedan Karoki Ryo Kiname Yuki Kawauchi Mohamed Reda Stephen Sambu Tsukasa Koyama Yohei Suzuki Taku Fujimoto Pardon Ndhlovu Daniel Wallis Augustine Choge Hugh Williams |
Country ETH ETH KEN KEN KEN KEN GBR KEN JPN KEN JPN JPN MAR KEN JPN JPN JPN ZIM NZL KEN AUS |
Personal best 2:04:00 2:04:15 2:04:32 2:05:04 2:05:44 2:06:10 2:06:21 2:06:27 2:07:19 2:07:41 2:08:08 2:08:14 2:09:18 2:11:07 2:11:20 2:14:53 2:15:30 2:16:22 2:19:24 Debut Debut |
International women’s elite field
Name Roza Dereje Birhane Dibaba Brigid Kosgei Shure Demise Yuka Ando Madai Perez Jessica Draskau Petersson Vianey De la Rosa Dayna Pidhoresky Hiruni Wijayaratne Melanie Myrand Chirine Njeim Alexi Pappas |
Country ETH ETH KEN ETH JPN MEX DEN MEX CAN SRI CAN LBN GRE |
Personal best 2:19:17 2:19:51 2:20:13 2:20:59 2:21:36 2:22:59 2:30:07 2:32:01 2:36:08 2:36:35 2:39:07 2:39:21 Debut |
For full athlete biographies, visit the Bank of America Chicago Marathon website.