Amos Kipruto won the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday in 2:01:09, a personal best by 30 seconds, after pulling away from defending champion Jacob Kiplimo in the second half of the race. The Kenyan, who had finished second and third in Chicago on previous visits, took his second major marathon title after winning in London in 2022. His winning time was 34 seconds outside Kelvin Kiptum's course record.
The men's race was evenly paced through the first half, with six runners still together at halfway. Kipruto and Kiplimo broke clear of the pack by 30km, with Kipruto passing that mark in 1:25:28, which was inside course-record pace. He then dropped the Ugandan between 30km and 35km and extended his lead to finish 1:47 clear of Tadese Takele Bikila of Ethiopia, who ran 2:02:56. Milkesa Mengesha was third in 2:03:46, and Kiplimo faded to fourth in 2:04:18.
Boki Diriba and Daniel Mateiko were both timed at 2:05:01 behind Kiplimo, with Diriba awarded fifth. Americans filled three of the next five places: Clayton Young was seventh in 2:05:23 as the leading American, Charles Hicks was eighth in 2:05:35 and Vincent Mauri was tenth in 2:06:45, with Japan's Akira Akasaki ninth in 2:05:47. Galen Rupp finished eleventh in 2:06:55.
The women's race was decided in the closing stages. Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia retained her title in 2:13:33, improving on her 2025 winning time by 1:24. She and Sharon Lokedi were level at 40km and separated by only a second at 35km before Feysa pulled clear over the final 2.195km, which she covered in 6:50. Lokedi finished second in 2:14:07, and two-time Chicago champion Brigid Kosgei was third in 2:14:55.
Mary Ngugi-Cooper was fourth in 2:17:23 and Joan Jepkosgei Kilimo fifth in 2:18:39. Emma Grace Hurley was the leading American woman in seventh, running 2:20:47 on her marathon debut. Chicago was the penultimate event of the seven-race World Marathon Majors calendar, with the New York City Marathon to follow on 1 November.