Stacked Professional Field Set to Race Fast and Chase Dreams Through Streets of Chicago

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The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon has announced its elite professional field for the 47th running on October 12. Defending champion John Korir (Kenya) returns after his 2024 victory of 2:02:44, aiming to break the sub-2:01 barrier. The men's field features six athletes who have broken 2:04, including Timothy Kiplagat (2:02:55) and Amos Kipruto (2:03:13).

The women's race will crown a new champion, with Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa (2:17:00) and Megertu Alemu (2:16:34) headlining the field. American hopes rest on Dakotah Popehn (2:24:40) and Lindsay Flanagan (2:23:31).

In the wheelchair division, defending champions Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug of Switzerland return to defend their titles. More than 53,000 runners are expected to participate in the event.

CHICAGO, Aug. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced its professional field for the 2025 event. The world's greatest marathoners, including three of the four reigning Bank of America Chicago Marathon champions, will line up to chase victory at the race's 47th running on Sunday, October 12.

Kenya's John Korir, whose dominant 2024 victory in 2:02:44 was the second fastest time in race history, will return to defend his title. In April, Korir showed his Chicago victory was no fluke with a convincing win at the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America. He has stated he hopes to run sub-2:01, a feat only accomplished by the late Kelvin Kiptum when he set the world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago in 2023.

"I am confident that I will be able to defend my title at the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon this October," said Korir, the eighth fastest man in history. "My training is going well, and I am focused on achieving another personal best time."

Korir will have company up front from six men who have broken 2:04. Kenya's Timothy Kiplagat, second at last year's Tokyo Marathon, is the second fastest man in the field with a personal best of 2:02:55. Fellow Kenyans Amos Kipruto (2:03:13), who was third in Chicago last year, and CyBrian Kotut (2:03:22), who took third in Boston, will look to replace Korir atop the podium, as will two-time Olympic marathon medalist Bashir Abdi (2:03:36) of Belgium.

Jacob Kiplimo (2:03:37) of Uganda, the world record holder in the half marathon, will come to Chicago for his second career marathon start after a runner-up finish in the London Marathon this spring. Two-time New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworwor of Kenya makes his Chicago debut after setting a personal best of 2:04:33 with a victory in the Rotterdam Marathon in April.

As previously announced, the American contingent will be led by Conner Mantz, who will attempt to break the American record of 2:05:38 set by Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. Mantz ran his personal best of 2:05:08 at the 2025 Boston Marathon, which is not record eligible. He'll be joined by Galen Rupp (2:06:17), the 2017 Chicago champion and third fastest American of all time, and local standout Matt Richtman (2:07:56) who won the 2025 Los Angeles Marathon. Rory Linkletter (2:08:01) will attempt to break the Canadian marathon record of 2:05:36

"The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will always be a special race for me," said Rupp, who was part of the Chicago Marathon broadcast team last year. "The atmosphere and buzz around the city of Chicago on race weekend is unmatched. Chicago is always a fast course and I'm looking forward to testing myself against a great field."

The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome a new women's winner to its history books. The field features Hawi Feysa (2:17:00), who took third at the Tokyo Marathon earlier this year, making her Chicago debut. Also coming from Ethiopia is the 2023 Chicago Marathon third place finisher Megertu Alemu (2:16:34) who will be looking to claim her first victory on U.S. soil. 

"I look forward to returning to the Chicago Marathon to try and improve on my previous performance there," said Alemu, winner of the 2024 Valencia Marathon. "The course is very flat and fast; and with my good training this year; I feel that I am fit to run better this time in Chicago and move higher up on the podium. I look forward to the race and the energy that the city gives you." 

Other notables on the women's side include Irine Cheptai (2:17:51) of Kenya, who was third here last year, Bedatu Hirpa (2:18:27) of Ethiopia, who earned her personal best in Dubai earlier this year, Haven Hailu Desse (2:19:17) of Ethiopia, who finished fourth in the 2025 London Marathon and Calli Hauger-Thackery (2:21:24), the second fastest British marathoner who will race Chicago for the first time. Ethiopia's Ejgayehu Taye, the 2023 World Championships bronze medalist in the 10,000m, will make her marathon debut.

The American race will be led by 2024 Paris Olympian Dakotah Popehn (2:24:40) who set her personal best in Chicago in 2023. Popehn will be joined by Lindsay Flanagan (2:23:31), ninth-place finisher at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, Natosha Rogers (2:23:51), who set a massive personal best in Japan last spring, and former University of Utah standout Emily Venters, who will make her marathon debut.

"I'm coming back with one goal: run even faster," said Popehn, who will run for the American Cancer Society. "There's no place like Chicago for chasing speed: the crowd, the course, the energy—it's built for breakthroughs."

The reigning champions of the men's and women's wheelchair divisions, Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner and Marcel Hug, will return to defend their Bank of America Chicago Marathon titles in 2025. Debrunner will look to make it a three-peat after winning here in 2023 and 2024, while Hug will chase his fourth consecutive and sixth overall Chicago victory.

"Last year's victory at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in a huge course record meant a lot to me. 2024 was a crazy year as it was a Paralympic year. I didn't expect that outcome at all," said Debrunner, who won four gold medals in Paris. "This year I have the special situation of traveling directly from the World Track Championships in New Delhi to Chicago. I'm excited about this challenge!"

"Last year's Bank of America Chicago Marathon was a tough battle, only decided in the final climb and was one of the most exciting finishes I've ever experienced," said Hug, who's margin of victory was only four seconds. "With many top athletes returning to the Windy City, I'm hoping to cross the finish line first once again this year."

Hug will face a familiar battle with three-time Bank of America Chicago Marathon winner Daniel Romanchuk of the United States. Last year, the two engaged in a sprint finish down Columbus Drive with Hug beating Romanchuk by just four seconds. Top contenders also include Aaron Pike, who has 14 top ten finishes in Chicago and 2024 Paralympic triathlon gold medalist Jetze Plat of the Netherlands, who placed fifth at the Chicago Marathon last fall.

Debrunner will have to fend off a trio of past Chicago winners that includes 2023 champion Susannah Scaroni of the United States, two-time champion Manuela Schär of Switzerland and nine-time winner Tatyana McFadden of the United States.

Media interested in covering the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon can apply for media credentials now through Friday, September 12. Visit chicagomarathon.com/mediacredentials for more information on the media credential application.

More than 53,000 runners are expected to participate in the 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which starts and finishes in Grant Park. For the latest event updates, registered participants and community members are encouraged to visit the Event FAQ, available at chicagomarathon.com.

Professional Men's Field

• John Korir, KEN, 2:02:44 (Chicago, 2024)
• Timothy Kiplagat, KEN, 2:02:55 (Tokyo, 2024)
• Amos Kipruto, KEN, 2:03:13 (Tokyo, 2023)
• CyBrian Kotut, KEN, 2:03:22 (Berlin, 2024)
• Bashir Abdi, BEL, 2:03:36 (Rotterdam, 2021)
• Jacob Kiplimo, UGA, 2:03:37 (London, 2025)
• Philemon Kiplimo, KEN, 2:04:01 (Hamburg, 2025)
• Geoffrey Kamworwor, KEN, 2:04:23 (London, 2023)
• Huseydin Mohamed Esa, ETH, 2:04:39 (Chicago, 2024)
• Conner Mantz, USA, 2:05:08 (Boston, 2025)
• Daniel Ebenyo, KEN, 2:06:04 (Chicago, 2024)
• Galen Rupp, USA, 2:06:07 (Prague, 2018)
• Hiroto Inoue, JPN, 2:06:14 (Tokyo, 2025)
• Zouhair Talbi, MAR, 2:06:39 (Houston, 2024)
• Matt Richtman, USA, 2:07:56 (Los Angeles, 2025)
• Ryan Ford, USA, 2:08:00 (Boston, 2025)
• Rory Linkletter, CAN, 2:08:01 (Seville, 2024)
• CJ Albertson, USA, 2:08:17 (Chicago, 2024)
• Hideyuki Tanaka, JPN, 2:09:27 (Tokyo, 2025)
• Patricio Castillo, MEX, 2:10:40 (Seville, 2023)
• Marc Scott, GBR, 2:11:19 (London, 2024)
• Colin Mickow, USA, 2:11:22 (Chandler, 2020)
• Kevin Salvano, USA, 2:11:26 (Chicago, 2023)
• Nick Hauger, USA, 2:11:55 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Robert Miranda, USA, 2:12:07 (Sacramento, 2024)
• Afewerki Zeru, USA, 2:18:54 (Porto, 2023)
• Casey Clinger, USA, Debut
• Tai Dinger, USA, Debut

Professional Women's Field

• Megertu Alemu, ETH, 2:16:34 (London, 2024)
• Hawi Feysa, ETH, 2:17:00 (Tokyo, 2025)
• Irine Cheptai, KEN, 2:17:51 (Chicago, 2024)
• Bedatu Hirpa, ETH, 2:18:27 (Dubai, 2025)
• Haven Hailu Desse, ETH, 2:19:17 (London, 2025)
• Mary Ngugi-Cooper, KEN, 2:20:22 (London, 2022)
• Calli Hauger-Thackery, GBR, 2:21:24 (Berlin, 2024)
• Lindsay Flanagan, USA, 2:23:31 (Chicago, 2024)
• Natosha Rogers, USA, 2:23:51 (Nagoya, 2025)
• Florencia Borelli, ARG, 2:24:18 (Seville, 2024)
• Gabi Rooker, USA, 2:24:29 (Chicago, 2024)
• Dakotah Popehn, USA, 2:24:40 (Chicago, 2024)
• Melody Julien, FRA, 2:25:01 (Valencia, 2023)
• Philippa Bowden, GBR, 2:25:47 (Berlin, 2024)
• Aubrey Frentheway, USA, 2:27:14 (Duluth, 2025)
• Maggie Montoya, USA, 2:27:50 (Rotterdam, 2025)
• Loice Chemnung, KEN, Debut
• Ejgayehu Taye, ETH, Debut
• Emily Venters, USA, Debut

Professional Men's Wheelchair Field

• Marcel Hug, SUI, 1:17:47 (Oita, 2021) World Record
• Aaron Pike, USA, 1:20:02 (Duluth, 2022)
• Johnboy Smith, GBR, 1:20:05 (Duluth, 2022)
• Hiroki Nishida, JPN, 1:20:28 (Boston, 2017)
• Daniel Romanchuk, USA, 1:21:36 (Boston, 2019)
• Rafael Botello Jimenez, ESP, 1:22:09 (Boston, 2017)
• Jetze Plat, NED, 1:24:28 (Dubai, 2023)
• Simon Lawson, GBR, 1:25:06 (Boston, 2017)
• Brian Siemann, USA, 1:26:46 (Boston, 2017)
• Geert Schipper, NED, 1:26:51 (London, 2025)
• Evan Correll, USA, 1:27:19 (Duluth, 2022)
• Jason Robinson, USA, 1:29:01 (Duluth, 2022)
• Rob Smith, GBR, 1:55:51 (Dubai, 2017)
• Ethan Burkhart, USA, 2:00:53 (Duluth, 2019)

Professional Women's Wheelchair Field

• Susannah Scaroni, USA, 1:27:31 (Duluth, 2022)
• Manuela Schär, SUI, 1:28:17 (Boston, 2017)
• Tatyana McFadden, USA, 1:31:30 (Duluth, 2019)
• Catherine Debrunner, SUI, 1:34:16 (Berlin, 2023) World Record
• Eden Rainbow-Cooper, GBR, 1:35:11 (Boston, 2024)
• Vanessa De Souza, BRA, 1:40:21 (Seville, 2020)
• Jade Hall, GBR, 1:41:44 (Boston, 2017)
• Hoda Elshorbagy, EGY, 1:58:38 (Chicago, 2023)
• Hannah Dederick, USA, 2:02:23 (Chicago, 2022)
• Rachel Cleaver, USA, 2:46:48 (Chicago, 2024)

About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

In its 47th year on Sunday, October 12, 2025, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will welcome thousands of participants from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class professional athlete field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut marathoners and charity participants. The race's iconic course takes participants through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural tour of Chicago. Annually, more than a million spectators line the streets cheering on tens of thousands of participants from the start line to the final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race's national and international draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating over $683 million in annual economic impact to its host city. The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 12. In advance of the race, a three-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Thursday, October 9, Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go to chicagomarathon.com.

For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts.

Reporters May Contact:
Alex Sawyer, Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Phone: 1.312.992.6618
alex.sawyer@cemevent.com

Andy Aldridge, Bank of America
Phone: 1.980.301.4615
andrew.aldridge@bofa.com

 

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SOURCE Bank of America Corporation

FAQ

Who are the defending champions returning to the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon?

John Korir (men's division), Catherine Debrunner (women's wheelchair), and Marcel Hug (men's wheelchair) are returning to defend their titles. The women's division will see a new champion.

What is John Korir's target time for the 2025 Chicago Marathon?

Korir is aiming to run sub-2:01, a feat only previously accomplished by Kelvin Kiptum's world record of 2:00:35 in Chicago in 2023.

Who are the top contenders in the women's field for the 2025 Chicago Marathon?

The top contenders include Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa (2:17:00) and Megertu Alemu (2:16:34), along with Kenya's Irine Cheptai (2:17:51).

How many runners are expected to participate in the 2025 Chicago Marathon?

More than 53,000 runners are expected to participate in the 47th Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

What is the American record that Conner Mantz is attempting to break in Chicago?

Mantz is attempting to break the American record of 2:05:38 set by Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. Mantz's personal best is 2:05:08 from the 2025 Boston Marathon.