Bank of America Chicago Marathon Announces Final Elite Fields for 2025

Posted by: Watch Athletics

Monday, 06 October 2025

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has unveiled its elite professional fields for the 2025 edition, featuring many of the world’s top marathoners—including reigning champions from last year’s race. The 47th running of the event takes place on Sunday, October 12, and promises another chapter of world-class performances on Chicago’s fast and historic course.

Men’s Elite Field

Kenya’s John Korir, the defending champion, headlines the men’s lineup after his dominant 2024 victory in 2:02:44, the second-fastest time in race history. Earlier this year, Korir reinforced his world-class status by winning the Boston Marathon, and he has boldly set his sights on running sub-2:01—a barrier only the late Kelvin Kiptum has broken, when he set the world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago in 2023.

Korir will face stiff competition from a deep field that includes six men with sub-2:04 personal bests. Among them is Timothy Kiplagat of Kenya (2:02:55), runner-up at last year’s Tokyo Marathon, and fellow countrymen Amos Kipruto (2:03:13), third in Chicago last year, and CyBrian Kotut (2:03:22), who finished third in Boston this spring. Belgium’s Bashir Abdi (2:03:36), a two-time Olympic marathon medalist, and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37), the half marathon world record holder, will also be strong contenders. Kiplimo returns for his second career marathon following a runner-up finish at the 2025 London Marathon.

Rounding out the world-class lineup, Kenya’s Geoffrey Kamworor, a two-time New York City Marathon champion, makes his long-awaited Chicago debut after clocking a personal best of 2:04:33 to win the Rotterdam Marathon in April.

Women’s Elite Field

The women’s race is guaranteed to crown a new champion, with an exceptionally deep field featuring proven global talent and rising stars. Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa (2:17:00), who placed third at this year’s Tokyo Marathon, will make her Chicago debut, while compatriot Megertu Alemu (2:16:34), third in Chicago in 2023, returns in search of her first victory on U.S. soil.

Other notable entrants include Irine Cheptai of Kenya (2:17:51), who finished third last year, and Ethiopia’s Bedatu Hirpa (2:18:27), fresh off a personal best from the Dubai Marathon. Haven Hailu Desse (2:19:17), fourth in the 2025 London Marathon, and Calli Hauger-Thackery (2:21:24), the second-fastest British marathoner of all time, will also line up in the Windy City.

Adding intrigue to the women’s field, Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, the 2023 World Championships bronze medalist in the 10,000m, will make her highly anticipated marathon debut.

See the full and final elite fields below.

MEN'S ELITE FIELD

John Korir, KEN, 2:02:44 (Chicago, 2024)
Timothy Kiplagat, KEN, 2:02:55 (Tokyo, 2024)
Amos Kipruto, KEN, 2:03:13 (Tokyo, 2023)
CyBrian Kotut, KEN, 2:03:22 (Berlin, 2024)
Bashir Abdi, BEL, 2:03:36 (Rotterdam, 2021)
Jacob Kiplimo, UGA, 2:03:37 (London, 2025)
Philemon Kiplimo, KEN, 2:04:01 (Hamburg, 2025)
Geoffrey Kamworwor, KEN, 2:04:23 (London, 2023)
Huseydin Mohamed Esa, ETH, 2:04:39 (Chicago, 2024)
Conner Mantz, USA, 2:05:08 (Boston, 2025)
Daniel Ebenyo, KEN, 2:06:04 (Chicago, 2024)
Galen Rupp, USA, 2:06:07 (Prague, 2018)
Hiroto Inoue, JPN, 2:06:14 (Tokyo, 2025)
Zouhair Talbi, MAR, 2:06:39 (Houston, 2024)
Matt Richtman, USA, 2:07:56 (Los Angeles, 2025)
Ryan Ford, USA, 2:08:00 (Boston, 2025)
Rory Linkletter, CAN, 2:08:01 (Seville, 2024)
CJ Albertson, USA, 2:08:17 (Chicago, 2024)
Hideyuki Tanaka, JPN, 2:09:27 (Tokyo, 2025)
Patricio Castillo, MEX, 2:10:40 (Seville, 2023)
Marc Scott, GBR, 2:11:19 (London, 2024)
Colin Mickow, USA, 2:11:22 (Chandler, 2020)
Kevin Salvano, USA, 2:11:26 (Chicago, 2023)
Nick Hauger, USA, 2:11:55 (Sacramento, 2024)
Robert Miranda, USA, 2:12:07 (Sacramento, 2024)
Afewerki Zeru, USA, 2:18:54 (Porto, 2023)
Casey Clinger, USA, Debut
Tai Dinger, USA, Debut

WOMEN'S ELIET FIELD

Megertu Alemu, ETH, 2:16:34 (London, 2024)
Hawi Feysa, ETH, 2:17:00 (Tokyo, 2025)
Irine Cheptai, KEN, 2:17:51 (Chicago, 2024)
Bedatu Hirpa, ETH, 2:18:27 (Dubai, 2025)
Haven Hailu Desse, ETH, 2:19:17 (London, 2025)
Mary Ngugi-Cooper, KEN, 2:20:22 (London, 2022)
Calli Hauger-Thackery, GBR, 2:21:24 (Berlin, 2024)
Lindsay Flanagan, USA, 2:23:31 (Chicago, 2024)
Natosha Rogers, USA, 2:23:51 (Nagoya, 2025)
Florencia Borelli, ARG, 2:24:18 (Seville, 2024)
Gabi Rooker, USA, 2:24:29 (Chicago, 2024)
Dakotah Popehn, USA, 2:24:40 (Chicago, 2023)
Melody Julien, FRA, 2:25:01 (Valencia, 2023)
Philippa Bowden, GBR, 2:25:47 (Berlin, 2024)
Aubrey Frentheway, USA, 2:27:14 (Duluth, 2025)
Maggie Montoya, USA, 2:27:50 (Rotterdam, 2025)
Loice Chemnung, KEN, Debut
Ejgayehu Taye, ETH, Debut
Emily Venters, USA, Debut