One Year After His Runner-Up Finish, Amos Kipruto Wins the 2026 Chicago Marathon
After taking sole possession of the lead in the 22nd mile, Amos Kipruto ran unchallenged to victory at the 2026 Chicago Marathon in 2:01:09. The 34-year-old Kenyan got his second World Marathon Majors victory and moved up a spot on the Chicago podium after placing second here last year.
Kipruto’s time is the second-fastest ever run on U.S. soil, after Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 course record of 2:00:35. Kipruto is now tied with former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge as the fifth-fastest marathoner in history.
Tadese Bikila of Ethiopia placed second in 2:02:56. His compatriot Milkesha Mengesha was third in 2:03:46. Defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda ran with Kipruto through 21 miles, but slowed significantly once dropped, placing fourth in 2:04:18.
Clayton Young was the top U.S. finisher, placing seventh in a personal best of 2:05:23. The time makes Young the second-fastest American on a record-eligible course. Charles Hicks, who ran with Young through 22 miles, was the second American man, placing eighth in 2:05:35, good for third on the all-time U.S. list.
Vinny Mauri, who was on U.S. record pace through 20 miles, then stopped briefly a few times because of hamstring cramps. Young and Hicks caught him soon after, and the three ran together briefly. Mauri was the third U.S. finisher, running 2:06:45 to place 10th overall.
Galen Rupp, age 40, who won here in 2017, placed 11th in 2:06:54. The time takes more than three minutes off the previous U.S. masters record.
Kipruto and Kiplimo were part of a six-man pack that passed halfway in 60:21, just six seconds slower than the target pace set at Saturday’s technical meeting. Kiplimo’s brother Jacob was the final pacer to exit the course, at 25K (15.5 miles).
Often, the pace slows when the top contenders are left on their own. But not today. The larger pack had covered from 20K to 25K in 14:06; Kipruto and Kiplimo kept that momentum going by running 14:09 from 25K to 30K (18.6 miles). That was enough to ditch the remaining men who had been with them at halfway.
The two were on pace through 20 miles to better Kiptum’s course record, but that 10K split of 28:15 from 20K to 30K took a toll in sunny conditions. Kipruto got the lead in the 22nd mile more because of Kiplimo faltering than Kipruto surging. The two were together at 21 miles, but by 35K (21.7), Kipruto was 17 seconds ahead.
Kiplimo continued to slow—his 23th mile took 5:26, 11 seconds slower than women’s leaders Hawi Feysa and Sharon Lokedi ran for that mile. So it was no surprise when Bikila and Mengesha swept past Kiplimo and denied him the consolation prize of a podium finish.
Kipruto will receive $100,000 for his win. He also earned the satisfaction of defeating Kiplimo, who finished one place ahead of him not only in Chicago last year, but also in London in April, when the two finished third and fourth, behind the first two sub-2:00 record-eligible marathons.
“Running a marathon, it’s all about the mindset,” Kipruto said after the race. “And when the mindset is ready to go, the body will be called.”
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