John Korir of Kenya delivered a stunning performance to win the 2024 Chicago Marathon, crossing the finish line in 2:02:43. This marked a significant personal best for Korir, shaving more than two minutes off his previous record and making it the fastest marathon time of 2024. It also stands as the second-fastest time ever recorded on the Chicago course, trailing only the late Kelvin Kiptum's world record of 2:00:35 from 2023.
Korir’s victory in Chicago is his first win in the Abbott World Marathon Majors, having previously won the Los Angeles Marathon in 2021 and 2022. He had finished third in Chicago in 2022 and fourth in 2023, showing consistent improvement over the years. The 27-year-old's triumph in this marathon solidifies his status as one of the top marathoners globally.
The men's race began at a controlled pace, with a pack of 10 athletes passing the 10 km mark in 29:27. By the halfway point, a group of runners, including Korir, Amos Kipruto, and Huseydin Mohamed Esa, clocked 1:02:19, on track for a 2:04 finish. Korir made his decisive move after the 30 km mark, pulling away from the leading group. By 35 km, he had built a lead of 29 seconds, and by 40 km, his advantage extended to a staggering 92 seconds.
Korir crossed the finish line with a negative split, running the second half of the race in an impressive 1:00:24. Ethiopia’s Huseydin Mohamed Esa finished second in 2:04:39, followed by Kenya’s Amos Kipruto in third at 2:04:50.
After the race, Korir shared that his focus was primarily on winning, not setting a record. His perseverance and tactical approach paid off, capping a monumental day for Kenyan runners, with Ruth Chepngetich also breaking the women’s world record.
TOP RESULTS MEN MARATHON
Pos. | TIME |
---|---|
1. Korir, John (KEN) | 2:02:44 |
2. Esa, Huseydin Mohamed (ETH) | 2:04:39 |
3. Kipruto, Amos (KEN) | 2:04:50 |
4. Ngetich, Vincent (KEN) | 2:05:16 |
5. Ebenyo, Daniel (KEN) | 2:06:04 |
6. Hosoya, Kyohei (JPN) | 2:07:20 |
7. Albertson, Cj (USA) | 2:08:17 |
8.Sadakata, Toshiki (JPN) | 2:08:22 |
9. Panning, Zach (USA) | 2:09:16 |
10. Yasui, Yuichi (JPN) | 2:10:11 |