The wheelchair fields for the 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11 bring together several of the sport's leading names, with Marcel Hug of Switzerland seeking a fifth consecutive men's title. Hug, known as the Silver Bullet, has won the last four editions in Chicago and lines up as the man to beat once more, as the race expects more than 55,000 runners across the whole event.
His principal rival in the men's division is Daniel Romanchuk of the United States, who has been one of the most consistent challengers to Hug in the major marathons. The pairing gives Chicago a headline men's contest that is separate from, and no less anticipated than, the race for the overall elite title, where defending champion Jacob Kiplimo heads a deep field.
The women's division is arguably the deeper of the two, with three of the sport's best-known champions in the same field. Nine-time champion Tatyana McFadden will compete, and she has spoken of the race's personal significance: "Chicago will always be special because it was where I ran my first marathon." She is joined by Manuela Schär and Catherine Debrunner, both of whom have won major marathon titles.
For the Chicago course, which is largely flat and features long, wide avenues through the city centre, the wheelchair races tend to be decided by tactics and finishing speed as much as pure fitness. Groups can form and break on the corners and in any wind coming off Lake Michigan.
The wheelchair races start ahead of the mass field on race morning, meaning they will be decided before the elite runners have reached the middle of the course. With Hug's streak, McFadden's history in the city and two closely matched women's rivals in Schär and Debrunner, the fields give Chicago a strong claim to some of the most competitive racing of the marathon season.