Kenya’s Amos Kipruto claimed victory at the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, clocking an impressive 2:01:09 to secure his second major marathon title after pulling away from defending champion Jacob Kiplimo in the closing stages.
The 34-year-old finished 1 minute and 47 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele, who placed second in 2:02:56, while compatriot Milkesa Mengesha completed the podium in 2:03:46.
Kipruto’s winning time is the second-fastest in Chicago Marathon history, behind the late Kelvin Kiptum’s course record of 2:00:35, set in 2023.
Kipruto's impressive marathon performance
The performance also saw the Kenyan shave 30 seconds off his previous personal best of 2:01:39, recorded at the London Marathon in April.
The time matches Eliud Kipchoge’s personal best of 2:01:09, placing the two Kenyan marathoners joint fifth on the all-time marathon list.
Kipruto’s victory followed previous podium finishes in Chicago, where he placed third in 2024 before finishing second in 2025.
His latest triumph adds another major marathon title to his career, four years after winning the London Marathon.
The men’s race began at a controlled pace, with six athletes running together through the first half.
The leading group reached the halfway mark in 1:00:21, maintaining a remarkably consistent rhythm across the opening 20 kilometres.
However, the pace increased between kilometres 20 and 25, breaking up the group and setting the stage for a decisive battle between Kipruto and Kiplimo.
Decisive moments in the race
The pair passed the 30-kilometre mark together in 1:25:28, three seconds faster than Kiplimo’s split at the same stage last year.
Kipruto then made his decisive move over the next five kilometres, opening a 12-second advantage by the 35-kilometre mark.
He maintained his pace through the closing stages, reaching 40 kilometres in 1:54:31 before powering towards the finish.
Although Kipruto was still within reach of Kiptum’s course-record pace at 35 kilometres, he eventually fell short of the record.
Nevertheless, his finishing time placed him among the fastest marathon runners in history.
Kiplimo, who had matched Kipruto for much of the race, struggled in the final kilometres. After reaching 35 kilometres in contention, the Ugandan lost significant time, allowing Takele and Mengesha to overtake him.
Challenges faced by competitors
Kiplimo eventually finished fourth in 2:04:18, extending a pattern of fading late in the Chicago race after setting a demanding early pace. He had won the 2025 edition in 2:02:23.
Takele, meanwhile, recorded a personal best of 2:02:56, improving his previous mark by 27 seconds.
The two-time Tokyo Marathon champion was competing in only his sixth marathon and his first outside Berlin and Tokyo.
Kenya’s Daniel Mateiko finished sixth in 2:05:01, sharing the time with Ethiopia’s Boki Diriba, who placed fifth.
Kipruto’s Chicago triumph further strengthens Kenya’s presence in international distance running and underscores his consistency among the world’s leading marathon athletes.
