Chicago Marathon schedule, elite fields and how to watch
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Defending champion Jacob Kiplimo could dip below the two-hour mark as he returns to the Chicago Marathon.
The Ugandan ran the third-fastest marathon in history in London in April, a feat only good enough for a podium place as Sabastian Sawe and Yomif Kejelcha each shattered the 120-minute mark.
It was in Chicago, though, that the 25-year-old marked his first major marathon win 12 months ago, and he will hope to fend off the field and perhaps challenge to go even faster.
The women’s elite field is headlined by Brigid Kosgei, back in the city where she claimed the world record in 2019.
Here’s everything you need to know.
When is the Chicago Marathon?
The Chicago Marathon takes place on Sunday 11 October, starting and finishing in Grant Park. Known for a flat and fast course, runners will take in 29 neighbourhoods on the 26.2-mile route through the Windy City.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can tune in via HBO Max from 1.15pm BST.
Event timings (all BST)
- Men’s Professional Wheelchair Start: 1.20pm
- Women’s Professional Wheelchair Start: 1.21pm
- Handcycle Start: 1.23pm
- Men’s and Women’s Professional Start: 1.30pm
- High Performance Program Start: 1.30pm
- Wave 1 Start: 1.35pm
- Wave 2 Start: 2pm
- Wave 3 Start: 2.35pm
Men’s elite field – and personal best)
- Jacob Kiplimo, UGA — 2:00:28 (London, 2026) NR
- Amos Kipruto, KEN — 2:01:39 (London, 2026)
- Milkesa Mengesha, ETH — 2:03:17 (Berlin, 2024)
- Tadese Takele Bikila, ETH — 2:03:23 (Tokyo, 2025)
- Daniel Mateiko, KEN — 2:03:44 (Tokyo, 2026)
- Asrar Hiyrden, ETH — 2:03:59 (Seville, 2026)
- Charles Hicks, USA — 2:04:35 (Boston, 2026)
- Alex Masai, KEN — 2:04:37 (Chicago, 2025)
- Suguru Osako, JPN — 2:04:55 (Valencia, 2025)
- Mohamed Reda El Aaraby, MOR — 2:05:18 (Hamburg, 2026)
- Clayton Young, USA — 2:05:41 (Boston, 2026)
- Vincent Mauri, USA — 2:05:54 (Toledo, 2026)
- Yemane Haileselassie, ERI — 2:06:06 (Boston, 2026)
- Galen Rupp, USA — 2:06:07 (Prague, 2018)
- Akira Akasaki, JPN — 2:06:15 (Berlin, 2025)
- Boki Diriba, ETH — 2:06:26 (Doha, 2026)
- Hendrik Pfeiffer, GER — 2:06:34 (Boston, 2026)
- Abbabiya Simbassa, USA — 2:06:53 (Valencia, 2024)
- Tsegay Weldibanos, ERI — 2:07:35 (Sacramento, 2024)
- Haftu Knight, USA — 2:07:38 (Boston, 2026)
- Patrick Tiernan, AUS — 2:07:45 (Houston, 2024)
- Kiyoshi Koga, JPN — 2:07:46 (Oita, 2026)
- CJ Albertson, USA — 2:08:17 (Chicago, 2024)
- Daniel Mesfun, USA — 2:08:24 (Seville, 2026)
- Alex Maier, USA — 2:08:33 (Dusseldorf, 2025)
- Murphy Smith, USA — 2:08:58 (Boston, 2026)
- Zach Panning, USA — 2:09:16 (Chicago, 2024)
- Jorge Castelblanco, PAN — 2:09:24 (Seville, 2024) NR
- Thomas Nobbs, CAN — 2:09:25 (Congers, 2026)
- Nadeel Wildschutt, RSA — 2:09:40 (Chandler, 2025)
- Jorge Luis Cruz, MEX — 2:09:43 (Valencia, 2025)
- Reed Fischer, USA — 2:09:47 (Seville, 2026)
- Jacob Thomson, USA — 2:09:51 (Boston, 2026)
- Ryan Johnson, USA — 2:10:20 (Boston, 2026)
- Tesfu Tewelde, ERI — 2:10:21 (Minneapolis, 2024)
- Thomas Fafard, CAN — 2:10:29 (Chandler, 2025)
- Chris Maxon, USA — 2:10:55 (Sacramento, 2025)
- Benjamin Flanagan, CAN — 2:15:39 (Toronto, 2025)
- Brian Kibor, KEN — Debut
- Tomoki Ota, JPN — Debut
- Kieran Tuntivate, THA — Debut
- Adriaan Wildschutt, RSA — Debut
Women’s elite field – and personal best
- Brigid Kosgei, KEN — 2:14:04 (Chicago, 2019)
- Hawi Feysa, ETH — 2:14:57 (Chicago, 2025)
- Sutume Kebede, ETH — 2:15:55 (Tokyo, 2024)
- Megertu Alemu, ETH — 2:16:34 (London, 2024)
- Brillian Kipkoech, KEN — 2:17:05 (Hamburg, 2026)
- Sharon Lokedi, KEN — 2:17:22 (Boston, 2025)
- Degitu Azimeraw, ETH — 2:17:58 (London, 2021)
- Loice Chemnung, KEN — 2:18:24 (Chicago, 2025)
- Joan Kilimo, KEN — 2:18:40 (Barcelona, 2026)
- Magdalyne Masai, KEN — 2:18:58 (Frankfurt, 2024)
- Fantu Worku, ETH — 2:19:08 (Dubai, 2026)
- Mary Ngugi Cooper, KEN — 2:19:26 (Chicago, 2025)
- Sara Hall, USA — 2:20:32 (Chandler, 2020)
- Yuka Akasaki, JPN — 2:21:33 (Osaka, 2025)
- Susanna Sullivan, USA — 2:21:56 (Chicago, 2024)
- Des Linden, USA — 2:22:38 (Boston, 2011)
- Isobel Batt-Doyle, AUS — 2:22:59 (Valencia, 2024)
- Natosha Rogers, USA — 2:23:28 (Chicago, 2025)
- Molly Born, USA — 2:24:10 (Sacramento, 2025)
- Dakotah Popehn, USA — 2:24:20 (Chicago, 2025)
- Gabriella Rooker, USA — 2:24:29 (Chicago, 2024)
- Elena Hayday, USA — 2:24:45 (Boston, 2026)
- Jess Warner-Judd, GBR — 2:24:45 (New York, 2025)
- Kristine Eikrem Engeset, NOR — 2:28:57 (Tokyo, 2026)
- Amanda Mosborg, USA — 2:32:01 (Indianapolis, 2025)
- Felicia Pasadyn, USA — 2:35:17 (New York, 2025)
- Alexandra Aldana, COL — 2:40:41 (Cali, 2025)
- Laura Galvan, MEX — Debut
- Emma Grace Hurley, USA — Debut
- Amy-Eloise Neale, GBR — Debut
