Brigid Kosgei returns to the Chicago course where she set a world record of 2:14:04 in 2019, and she does so as the pre-race pick of many observers for Sunday's Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The Kenyan won in Tokyo in March in 2:14:29, her fastest time since that world record, and has since won the Great North Run by more than two minutes. It is her first Chicago start since 2019, the 2020 edition having been cancelled.
The main threat is expected to be her compatriot Sharon Lokedi, who makes her Chicago debut as the winner of the 2025 and 2026 Boston Marathons and the 2022 New York City Marathon. Lokedi has a personal best of 2:17:22, but her coach, Stephen Haas, believes she is in around 2:12 shape and says this will be her first pacer-assisted marathon after a career of tactical races on hilly courses. Lokedi is reportedly deciding between halfway splits of 66:00 and 66:30, a target Haas expects to adjust once the weather is clear.
Defending champion Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia won last year in 2:14:57 by more than two minutes and was third in Tokyo this spring in 2:17:39. She is expected to follow Kosgei's tentative 65:30 halfway plan. Also in the mix are Sutume Kebede, a double Tokyo winner with a 2:15:55 best, Megertu Alemu (2:16:34) and Brillian Kipkoech, the Hamburg winner with a best of 2:17:05. Seven women in the field have run inside 2:18, and the winning time in Chicago has been under 2:15 in five of the last six years, the exception being the heat of 2021.
Conditions may temper the fastest ambitions. Forecasts point to temperatures in the 60s Fahrenheit, with the possibility of light rain, which Haas described as warmer than ideal and said would make him surprised if a 65:30 first half held. The course is flat and the women again have male pacers, so the race is likely to be decided by who manages the second half best should the opening pace prove optimistic.
The American interest centres on Emma Grace Hurley, 28, who debuts after running 66:23 for fifth at the World Road Running Championships half marathon in September, a time that ranks third on the US all-time list. Hurley has said her fitness is around 2:20 but that she is focused on the experience rather than a time. Sara Hall and Des Linden, both 43, Susanna Sullivan, Natosha Rogers and Dakotah Popehn are among the Americans who could challenge for the top domestic spot should Hurley struggle. Debutants Laura Galvan of Mexico and Amy-Eloise Neale of Great Britain are also in the field. The elite races start at 7:30am local time.