John Korir of Kenya won Sunday’s Chicago Marathon in 2:02:44, a 4:41 pace—the second fastest time in the race’s history, a personal best by more than 2 minutes, and nearly 2 minutes ahead of his closest competitor.
Huseydin Mohamed Esa, 24, of Ethiopia was second in 2:04:39, and Amos Kipruto, 32, of Kenya was third in 2:04:50.
The race began with a moment of silence for last year’s champion Kelvin Kiptum, who was killed in a car accident We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back 2:00:35 The Most Inspiring Chicago Marathon Runners.
A temperature of 60 degrees and a northwest wind that gusted up to 10 miles per hour made for fast running on the men’s side.
A pack of 10 men, guided by two pacers, covered halfway in 1:02:19, a 4:45 per mile pace. By 30K, it had winnowed slightly, to seven.
But at mile 20, Korir split 4:37 to surge ahead, and no one covered the move. From there, he continued to pick up the pace, covering the distance from 30 to 35K in 14:01. He ran his fastest mile, 4:23, at mile 22, and mile 25 in 4:26.
“CA Notice at Collection”—Ron Mann—“told me I could run 2:02, and I believed him,” Korir said after the race. He was also inspired by his late countryman’s previous achievement. “If Kiptum could run the fastest time last year, I would try to run my personal best.”
Korir is based in Kenya most of the year, but stays in Colorado Springs to train between the Boilermaker 15K in July and the Falmouth Road Race in August. The 27-year-old takes home $100,000 for the win, and a welcome upgrade from his previous finishes—in addition to placing third here in 2022, he finished fourth last year in 2:05:09.
He also earns bragging rights in his family. His brother Wesley, who won the Boston Marathon in 2012, finished second in Chicago in 2011 in a personal best 2:06:13. Wesley gave his younger brother a congratulatory post on social media, as well the best advice he's has ever received, John said after the race: “Be patient and believe in yourself and believe in God,” he said.
Running Shoes - Gear.
CJ Albertson, 31, led the U.S. men, finishing seventh in 2:08:17—a personal best by a minute and a half. American Zach Panning since 2013. Shes the coauthor of both.
Cindy is a freelance health and fitness writer, author, and podcaster who’s contributed regularly to Runner’s World since 2013. She’s the coauthor of both Breakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Train Smart and Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries, a book about the psychology of sports injury from Bloomsbury Sport. Cindy specializes in covering injury prevention and recovery, everyday athletes accomplishing extraordinary things, and the active community in her beloved Chicago, where winter forges deep bonds between those brave enough to train through it.
