CHICAGO MARATHON WINNERS KIPLIMO, FEYSA EARN $100K IN PRIZE MONEY

Elite runners target the Chicago Marathon for record attempts because of the often-favorable weather and the flat course.
ILLUSTRATION BY SPORTICO, PHOTO BY MICHAEL REAVES/GETTY IMAGES

In his second-ever marathon, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s pro race at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, covering the 26.2 miles in 2:02:23. This was a personal best time by more than a minute for Kiplimo, who’s sponsored by Nike, and the seventh-fastest men’s marathon time ever.

It was also the second-fastest time ever run in Chicago behind the late Kelvin Kiptum, who won the 2023 Chicago Marathon in a world-record 2:00:35. 

Kenyan Amos Kipruto, sponsored by Adidas, finished in second in an unofficial 2:03:52, followed by countryman Alex Masai, a Nike athlete, in 2:04:37. American Conner Mantz, also sponsored by Nike, finished fourth in 2:04:43, breaking Khalid Khannouchi’s American men’s marathon record of 2:05:38.

“[Breaking the American men’s marathon record] was a great feeling,” Mantz said on the NBC5 Chicago broadcast after the race. “Those last few miles were really tough. Even with a few miles to go, I started doing the math about what pace I needed [to maintain to get the record]. Fortunately I got to work with Alex Masai those last 10 miles. … Unfortunately, I couldn’t beat him, but he got third place, first podium finish, big PR for him.”

Kiplimo will take home $100,000 for his win. Kipruto takes $75,000 for second place, and Masai earns $50,000. Mantz will get $30,000 for his fourth-place finish plus an additional $15,000 in prize money for being the top American finisher.

Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa, sponsored by Adidas, won the women’s pro race at the 47th Chicago Marathon with a time of 2:14:56. Feysa ran side-by-side with Magdalena Shauri of Tanzania through the first 25 kilometers, but by the 30K mark, Feysa had opened up about a 10-second gap on the rest of the field. The Ethiopian continued to add to her lead, crossing the line two-plus minutes faster than countrywoman Megertu Alemu, who got second in 2:17:18. Shauri rounds out the women’s podium with a 2:18:03 finish.

“Winning here has been amazing. I worked really hard, I trained really hard to have this victory,” Feysa said after the race through a translator. “My coach has been extremely instrumental in this training block.He has given me really hard training that has helped me.”

Feysa earned $100,000 for her win, with $75,000 and $50,000 going to Alemu and Shauri, respectively, for their finishes.

Natosha Rogers was the top U.S. woman, finishing sixth overall in 2:23:28, a personal-best time. The 34-year-old Rogers was followed by fellow Americans Dakotah Popehn and Gabi Rooker in seventh and eighth. While they miss out on overall prize money, which only goes to the top five men’s and women’s finishers, the three women will take home $15,000, $12,000 and $10,000 for their finishes as the top Americans.

“Every ounce of everything you have goes into this to get to the start line, let alone the finish line, let alone finish as top American,” Rogers, who is sponsored by Puma, said post-race. “So much of it is mental, mind over matter.”

In the men’s wheelchair race, Switzerland’s Marcel Hug opened up a 93-second lead by the halfway mark and didn’t let up, breaking the tape in 1:23:20, four minutes and a full mile ahead of Great Britain’s David Weir in second. Hug’s time was less than a minute off of his Chicago Marathon course record of 1:22:37, set in 2023. 

“It was pretty tough, chasing for a course record,” Hug said after the race. “I was trying very hard, and I went all in. The last 10K, I was too tired.”

This was Hug’s fourth straight Chicago Marathon win and his sixth ever, making him the most decorated men’s wheelchair racer in Chicago Marathon history. “That was not in my mind, to be honest, but to beat this record is incredible,” he said. “It really means a lot to me.”

After leading for the duration of the race, American Susannah Scaroni won the women’s wheelchair race in 1:38:14, her second Chicago Marathon victory. Behind her, Switzerland’s Manuela Schär and American Tatyana McFadden crossed the line in 1:39:03 and 1:39:04 for second and third, respectively, in a sprint finish. 

Scaroni struggled in last year’s race with a flat tire at mile 3, so this year’s win provided redemption. “When I got to mile 3 today, I felt like, ‘We’re making it!’” Scaroni said post-race.

Hug and Scaroni will each receive $40,000 in prize money for their wins. Weir and Schär each earn $30,000 for second. Third through sixth places also take home prize money.

The total prize purse for the 2025 Chicago Marathon is $908,000, up from $890,000 in 2023 but down from $913,000 in 2024. This year, the winners of the Masters men’s and women’s divisions receive $2,000 each; in 2024, the second and third place masters runners took home a prize bonus as well, something not given this year. (The Chicago Marathon did not return an email request for comment on the reduction in prize money.)

Additionally, the top five runners receive points toward the Abbott World Marathon Majors elite series. At the end of the cycle, which ends with the New York City Marathon next month, the three runners with the most points will receive a prize bonus.

- BETTE CANTER

LONDON MARATHON: JEPCHIRCHIR AND MUNYAO SECURE KENYAN DOUBLE

Winners of the men's and women's races, Kenya's Alexander Mutiso Munyao and Peres Jepchirchir pose with the trophy at the presentations for the 2024 London Marathon in central London on April 21, 2024. JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

 Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir won the London marathon in a women's-only world record on Sunday, April 21, as Alexander Mutiso Munyao's victory in the men's race London marathon it a Kenyan double.

The race was preceded by 30 seconds of applause for Kelvin Kiptum, 2023 winner of the men's race, who was killed in a car accident in February. A poignant day ended with two more Kenyan victories with Jepchirchir in particular putting down a marker ahead of her defence of her title at the Paris Olympics.

The field for the women's race was considered one of the best ever assembled with three of the four fastest women in history competing. Jepchirchir, 30, came home in front of world record holder Tigst Assefa and Joyciline Jepkosgei to break the record mark without male pacemakers.

Jepchirchir's time of 2 hours 16 minutes 16 seconds smashed the women's-only course record of 2:17:01 set by compatriot Mary Keitany in 2017. Retired British star Paula Radcliffe ran a time of 2:15:25 in a mixed-sex marathon in London in 2003, using male pacemakers.

"I was not expecting to run a world record," said Jepchirchir. "I knew it might be beat but I did not expect it to be me. "I am so happy to qualify for the Olympics and I feel grateful. I'm happy to be at Paris and my pray(er) is to be there and run well to defend my title. I know it won't be easy but I'll try my best."

Munyao got the better of Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele to take the men's race in 2:04:01. A three-time Olympic gold medallist on the track, Bekele was on course for his first win on the streets of London aged 41 but Munyao proved too strong in the closing kilometres to pull clear up London's famous landmark The Mall towards the finish line.

"At 40 kilometres I got some pressure from Bekele but I had a lot of confidence because I trained for this race," said Munyao. "After 40 kilometres I thought I had enough energy to win. That's why I kicked and I knew I would win."

The 27-year-old also paid tribute to Kiptum, whose sudden death sent shockwaves through the sport. "I think about him and let him rest in peace. He came here in London and he won."

Behind the front two it was a great day for the British duo of Emile Cairess and Mahamed Mahamed as they finished third and fourth respectively to close in on a place at the Paris Olympics.

A record number of people were running the 42-kilometer route through the British capital with over 50,000 participants taking part. Among them was new Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, who faces a race against the clock to finish in time to see his side take on Coventry in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley later on Sunday.

- Le Monde

KENYA'S 🇰🇪 KELVIN KIPTUM: MARATHON WORLD RECORD HOLDER DIES IN ROAD CRASH

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 The men's marathon world record holder, Kenya's Kelvin Kiptum, 24, has died in a road accident in his home country.

He was killed alongside his coach, Rwanda's Gervais Hakizimana, in a car on a road in western Kenya on Sunday.

Kiptum made a breakthrough in 2023 as a rival to compatriot Eliud Kipchoge - one of the greatest marathon runners.

And it was in Chicago last October that Kiptum bettered Kipchoge's achievement, clocking the 26.1 miles (42km) in two hours and 35 seconds.

The two athletes had been named in Kenya's provisional marathon team for the Paris Olympics later this year.

Paying tribute to Kiptum, Kenyan Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba wrote on X: "Devastatingly sickening!! Kenya has lost a special gem. Lost for words."

Kenya's opposition leader and former prime minister, Raila Odinga, said the country had lost "a true hero" and was mourning "a remarkable individual... and Kenyan athletics icon".

Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, said Kiptum was "an incredible athlete leaving an incredible legacy, we will miss him dearly".

KIPTUM AIMING TO BREAK TWO-HOUR BARRIER AT ROTTERDAM MARATHON IN 2024

USA TODAY Sports 

Kelvin Kiptum has enjoyed a remarkable 2023, breaking the men's marathon world record, and the Kenyan now wants to run the first sub-two-hour marathon in Rotterdam next April.

In October, running in just his third marathon, Kiptum took 34 seconds off the previous record in winning the Chicago Marathon in two hours and 35 seconds. He also won the London Marathon in April in 2:01:25, which at the time was the second-fastest time ever for a marathon.

When asked what was next in his sights, Kiptum told Gazzetta dello Sport: "It's already known, the Rotterdam Marathon on April 14.

KIPYEGON, LYLES AMONG SIX CROWNED AT EXPANDED WORLD ATHLETICS AWARDS

Faith Kipyegon. Reuters 

Six athletes - Faith Kipyegon, Noah Lyles, Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, Tigist Assefa, Kelvin Kiptum, and Yulimar Rojas - were all named World Athletes of the Year on Monday after the awards were expanded into three categories.

The 2023 World Athletics Awards have been divided into track, field and out of stadia categories following feedback received during the voting process, the organisers said.

"The depth of talent and the outstanding performances in our sport this year more than justify the expansion," said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe.

"Our World Athletes of the Year alone have achieved seven world records ... in 2023, as well as a host of world titles and major wins, so it is only fitting that they be recognised as the athletes of the year in their respective fields."

NEW WORLD RECORD! 🔥 | KELVIN KIPTUM