2022 Chicago Marathon preview: how to stream and who to watch in the Windy City
After two stunning marathons in London and Berlin, the Abbott World Marathon Majors make their third stop of the fall in the Windy City for the 2022 Chicago Marathon. On Sunday, October 9, defending champions, world champions and Olympians will head the elite fields when Runners from all over the world compete in Chicago for a major title. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s race.
last year’s winner, Ruth Chepngetich from Kenya and Seifu Tura from Ethiopia, return to the field, both aiming for a second consecutive win. While the fields may not be as well known as London and Berlin, we’re sure to see some standout performances.
The women’s race
Reigning champion Chepngetich returns to defend her title after a DNF at the 2022 Worlds. Chepngetich ran the weirdest marathon I’ve seen in Eugene. He did the first 10K at a world record pace and then dropped out in the lead due to cramps.
The 2019 world champion has a personal best of 2:17:08 and holds the Kenyan national record for the half marathon (64:02). On paper, Chepngetich is the favourite, as the fastest woman in the field and with the most experience on this course. Still, it might be difficult to trust her recent lackluster performances next Sunday.
Ethiopia Rüti Aga returns to the marathon scene after winning the 2019 Tokyo Marathon after back-to-back marathon DNFs. Aga had a breakout season in 2018 and 2019, putting up her marathon PB of 2:18:34 and hoping to revive her previous form on Sunday.
Celestine Chepcchir of Kenya has the third fastest sod time in the field but is still more than three full minutes slower than Chepngetich. However, Chepchirchir, 26, has run a personal best in her last two marathons (2:20:10) and will be looking to go below the 2:20 mark on Chicago’s flat and flat course.
Vivian Kippagat is the third Kenyan to watch out for. She clocked a personal best of 2:20:18, won the Milan Marathon in April and has her sights set on a sub-2:20.
The US half marathon record holder Emily Sison, leading the American contingent. Sisson had a spectacular season on the road, winning USATF 15K and half-marathon titles. Chicago will be Sisson’s first marathon since she set the American half-marathon record of 1:07:11 in May. Her PB is 2:23:08.
Canada will have three elites on the starting line, all looking for personal bests. Rachel Hanna and Lisa Howard will both try to be under the 2:35 mark while they are Olympic Krista DuChene hopes to land on the Masters podium.
Our choice: Celstine Chepchirchir (KEN) – 2:18:37
The Herrenfeld
2021 champion Tura leads a stellar men’s field made up mostly of East African runners. Tura has the most experience of this course but will face stiff competition from some of his Ethiopian and Kenyan compatriots Benson Kipruto and Eric Kippanui.
Kipruto has been on the rise on the international marathon scene since his 2018 win in Toronto (2:05:13), where he set the Canadian running record (which was broken the following year). While Kipruto may not be the fastest runner in the field, he is a notable tactical racer, having finished on the podium in all four of his most recent marathons (including his 2021 Boston Marathon win). If the pace is set below 2:05 early, it could sort out Kipruto, but watch out for him bouncing between the 30k and 40k marks.
Kiptanui has had multiple top-five marathon finishes at World Majors but has never won. Chicago’s flat course could work well for the 2:05 marathoner looking to win his first title.
The fastest set time among men is Ethiopia’s Herpasa Negasawhose all-time best of 2:03:40, set in Dubai in 2019, makes him the 18th fastest man of all time over the marathon distance.
Two other athletes to watch out for are Ugandans Stephen Kissa and Conner Manz the American Kissa, who trains alongside world record holders Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob KiplimoHe has set some fast times in the 5,000m and 10,000m but is relatively new to the marathon scene. Earlier this year, Kissa debuted in 2:04:48 and finished second in the Hamburg Marathon, setting a Ugandan national record in the process. Kissa is known for going out fast and could make things interesting in the men’s race.
Expectations are high for Mantz, the 2021 NCAA XC Champion, who will make his marathon debut here in Chicago at the age of 25. Mantz is hoping to set the fastest debut marathon by an American athlete here in Chicago, targeting a time of 2:06 to break Leonard Korirs Record of 2:07:56. Can he pull it off? His recent times say so, but the marathon is a different beast.
Our pick: Benson Kipruto (KEN) – 2:05:27
like watching
Good news fans – you can sleep in for this one. The 2022 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will be streamed live from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET on the NBC Chicago website
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