2024 Chicago Marathon facts for kids

The 2024 Chicago Marathon was the 46th edition of the annual Chicago Marathon, held on October 13, 2024. The race is the fifth of six World Marathon Majors held in 2024, and is a platinum label race.

The marathon had 120,000 applications in 2024. The expected number of finishers in 2024 exceeds 50,000, which would break the 48,398 finisher record set in 2023. Notably, in June, the race organizers announced a reduction in the automatic time qualifying standard that will begin in 2025.

A moment of silence was held at the start of the race in honor of the 2023 race winner, course and world record holder, Kelvin Kiptum, who died in February 2024.

Background

The Chicago Marathon has a reputation of being one of the fastest marathon courses due to the flat course and favorable autumn temperatures. The Chicago Marathon has been the site of six world records in the distance, with the most recent coming in 2023 when Kelvin Kiptum set a world record of 2:00:35.

Competitors

Amos Kipruto competing in the 2023 London Marathon

Kenyan Amos Kipruto headlined the men's race with a 2:03:13 PB and 2022 London Marathon victory. He will be challenged by fellow countryman Vincent Ngetich who has an identical PB of 2:03:13 and a second pace finish at the 2023 Berlin Marathon. Zach Panning was the fastest American in the field, coming off a 6th pace finish at the 2024 Olympic Trials and a 2:09:28 finish at the 2022 Chicago Marathon. Daniel Ebenyo, from Kenya made his debut at the distance following his runner-up finish at the 2023 World Athletics Championships 10,000 meter run.

The 2021 and 2022 Chicago Marathon champion, Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya held the fastest entry at 2:14:18. Sutume Kebede, the eighth fastest women's marathoner is entered at a 2:15:55. Kebede was a former training partner of Kelvin Kiptum who was the 2023 Chicago Marathon champion before passing away in a car accident in February of 2024. Betsy Saina and Keira D'Amato, two of the three fastest American women marathoners entered at 2:19:17 and 2:19:12, respectively.

Marcel Hug from Switzerland attempted to win his fifth Chicago victory. Hug was coming off a Paralympic gold medal in the distance. Aaron Pike from the United States entered second at 2:20:02 and was the top American in the field.

World Record holder and defending champion Catherine Debrunner from Switzerland also competed in the marathon. Susannah Scaroni from the United States was the top ranked entry and was the 2022 Chicago champion.

Race

To honor Kelvin Kiptum, the 2023 champion and current world record holder who passed away in February of 2024, there was a moment of silence at the starting of the race as well as tribute stickers for athletes to wear on the course. Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich set a women's world record with a time of 2:09:56, with Ethiopian Sutume Asefa Kebede finishing second in 2:17:32. Kenyan John Korir won the men's race with a time of 2:02:44, and Ethiopian Huseydin Mohamed Esa finished second in 2:04:39.

Finishers

The 2024 edition of the Chicago Marathon was expected to have a record number of finishers with over 50,000 athletes participating.

Results

The Chicago Marathon began on October 13 at 7:20am.

Men

Elite men's top 10 finishers

Position	Athlete	Nationality	Time
1	John Korir	Kenya	2:02:44
2	Mohamed Esa	Ethiopia	2:04:39
3	Amos Kipruto	Kenya	2:04:50
4	Vincent Ngeitch	Kenya	2:05:16
5	Daniel Ebenyo	Kenya	2:06:04
6	Kyohei Hosoya	Japan	2:07:20
7	CJ Albertson	United States	2:08:17
8	Toshiki Sadakata	Japan	2:08:22
9	Alex Masai	Kenya	2:08:51
10	Zach Panning	United States	2:09:16

Women

Elite women's top 10 finishers

Position	Athlete	Nationality	Time
1	Ruth Chepngetich	Kenya	2:09:56 WR
2	Sutume Kebede	Ethiopia	2:17:32
3	Irine Cheptai	Kenya	2:17:51
4	Buze Diriba	Ethiopia	2:20:22
5	Joyciline Jepkosgei	Kenya	2:20:51
6	Degitu Azimeraw	Ethiopia	2:20:52
7	Susanna Sullivan	United States	2:21:56
8	Ashete Bekere	Ethiopia	2:23:10
9	Lindsay Flanagan	United States	2:23:31
10	Stacy Ndiwa	Kenya	2:23:42