Chicago Marathon 2024: Top 5 athletes to watch out for in the men's and women's discipline ft. Amos Kipruto, Ruth Chepngetich

The 2024 Chicago Marathon will be the 46th edition of the event, staged in Chicago, Illinois on October 13. Scheduled to kick off from Grant Park at the intersection of Columbus Drive and Monroe Street, the event will conclude at Columbus Drive south of Balbo Drive in Grant Park.

With just a few days remaining for one of the World Marathon Majors (WMM) to take center stage, here's a look at the top five men’s and women’s runners to watch out for.

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Men’s runners to watch out for at the 2024 Chicago Marathon

#5 Jemal Yimer Mekonnen

Jemal Yimer (via Getty Images)

Jemal Yimer Mekonnen is one of the top male athletes who will run the 2024 Chicago Marathon. He competed in the Seoul Marathon in March winning in 2:06:08 hours.

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#4 Amedework Walelegn

Amedework Walelegn (#5 left) at the NN Marathon Rotterdam (Getty Images)

Amedework Walelegn is another elite runner who will be in action at the marathon in Chicago, which is recognized as one of the World Marathon Majors (WMM). He won the 2024 NN Marathon Rotterdam, clocking 2:04:50 hours.

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#3 Mohamed Esa

2024 Boston Marathon runner-up Mohamed Esa will compete at the Chicago Marathon. He has a personal best of 2:05:05 hours, which he achieved at the Amsterdam Marathon.

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#2 Vincent Kipkemoi

Vincent Kipkemoi (Getty Images)

Vincent Kipkemoi, the third-placed runner at the Tokyo Marathon with 2:04:18 hours this season, is one of the top athletes to watch out for at the marathon in the USA. Some of his notable finishes at World Marathon Majors are second in the 2023 Berlin Marathon and third in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.

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#1 Amos Kipruto

Amos Kipruto (Getty Images)

Amos Kipruto is the biggest name in Chicago on Sunday, October 13. He won the bronze medal at the 2019 World Championships (2:10:51 hours) and was the London Marathon champion in 2022.

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Women’s runners to watch out for at the 2024 Chicago Marathon

#5 Irine Chepet Cheptai

Irine Chepet Cheptai (L) at the Commonwealth Games (Getty Images)

Irine Chepet Cheptai emerged as the best performer at the 2024 Hamburg Marathon, winning the event in 2:18:22 hours. This makes her one of the top female runners to watch out for in Chicago.

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#4 Ashete Bekere

Ashete Bekere (Getty Images)

Ashete Bekere won the NN Marathon Rotterdam this year, crossing the finish line in 2:19:30 hours. Having previously collected a Marathon Major title in 2019 in Berlin, she will have her eyes on the Chicago long-distance race title when she competes on Sunday.

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#3 Joyciline Jepkosgei

Joyciline Jepkosgei at the London Marathon (Getty Images)

Having already shown glimpses of her performance during the 2024 London Marathon with a third-place finish (2:16:24 hours), the two-time WMM winner Joyciline Jepkosgei will aim for her third crown in Chicago.

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#2 Sutume Kebede

Sutume Kebede had a remarkable year and won her first WMM title, the Tokyo Marathon this season, with 2:15:55 hours. This makes her one of the strongest contenders for the Chicago Marathon.

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#1 Ruth Chepngetich

Ruth Chepngetich (Getty Images)

Ruth Chepngetich is the fastest among the women’s elite field with a personal best of 2:14:18 hours. She is a two-time WMM winner, having claimed the Chicago Marathon twice in 2021 and 2022, and will hope to reclaim her crown after finishing as the runner-up last time, following her loss to Dutch star Sifan Hassan.