Clayton Young was the leading American at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, finishing seventh overall in a personal best of 2:05:23. The 2024 Olympian went through halfway in 1:02:32 alongside Charles Hicks and held his rhythm in the second half, ending the day well clear of the rest of the American field.
Hicks was close behind in eighth in 2:05:35, and the depth of the US men's result was striking. Vincent Mauri ran 2:06:45 in tenth and Galen Rupp, the two-time Olympic medallist, was eleventh in 2:06:55 in what the field described as a very strong performance. CJ Albertson was 13th in 2:07:19, giving the United States five men inside 2:07:30 on the same day.
The race itself was won by Amos Kipruto of Kenya in 2:01:09, so the Americans were competing for places well behind the leaders. Even so, the cluster of fast times in the middle of the elite field underlined how far the national standard has moved. Shuaib Aljabaly (2:10:04) and Afewerki Zeru (2:10:12) followed as the sixth and seventh Americans home.
In the women's race Emma Grace Hurley was the top American on her marathon debut, placing seventh in 2:20:47 after reaching halfway in 1:09:50. The time is described as the fastest debut by a US woman, and she finished just nine seconds behind sixth-placed Isobel Batt-Doyle of Australia. Dakotah Popehn was the second American in 13th in 2:24:00, improving on her personal best from the same course a year ago.
Elena Hayday (2:24:57) and Natosha Rogers (2:27:22) were 14th and 15th, meaning the United States had three women in the top 14 and four in the top 15 overall. With Feysa winning in a personal best 2:13:33, the Americans were not threatening the podium, but both sets of results point to a national marathon scene that is deepening at the top end.