2023 Chicago Marathon facts for kids

The 2023 Chicago Marathon was the 45th time this big race happened in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. It took place on Sunday, October 8, 2023. This marathon is one of the six most important marathon races in the world.

About 45,000 runners joined the event. One runner even became the millionth person to finish the Chicago Marathon!

A runner from Kenya, Kelvin Kiptum, set a new world record for marathons. He finished the race in 2 hours, 35 seconds. This was 34 seconds faster than the old record. Kiptum ran super fast in the second half of the race. This was only his third marathon ever, and he has set records in all of them!

For the women's race, Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands set a new course record. She finished in 2 hours, 13 minutes, and 44 seconds. This was the second-fastest marathon ever run by a woman. It was only her second marathon!

In the wheelchair races, Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner from Switzerland both set new course records. Marcel Hug finished in 1 hour, 22 minutes, and 37 seconds. Catherine Debrunner finished in 1 hour, 38 minutes, and 44 seconds.

About the Chicago Marathon

The first modern Chicago Marathon was held on September 25, 1977. The Chicago Marathon is known for having a very flat course. This flat course helps runners achieve very fast times.

Five world records for marathons have been set at the Chicago Marathon. For example, in 2019, Brigid Kosgei set a women's world record here.

Who Ran in the Race?

Many top runners from around the world came to compete in the 2023 Chicago Marathon.

Top Male Runners

Ruth Chepng'etich during the 2021 Chicago Marathon, which she also won.

Benson Kipruto from Kenya was the winner of the 2022 Chicago Marathon. He came back to try and win again.

Kelvin Kiptum, also from Kenya, joined the race. He had won the London Marathon earlier in 2023. He was one of the fastest marathon runners ever.

Bashir Abdi from Belgium also ran. He won a bronze medal in the marathon at the 2020 Olympics.

Top Female Runners

Ruth Chepng'etich from Kenya was the defending champion. She won the race in 2022. She is one of the fastest female marathon runners ever.

Emily Sisson from the U.S. also returned. She was the second-place finisher in 2022. She also set a new U.S. record for the marathon in that race.

Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands was also part of the elite group. She had won the London Marathon earlier in the year.

Top Wheelchair Athletes

Marcel Hug from Switzerland, who won the previous year, came back to defend his title. Other strong competitors included Daniel Romanchuk and Aaron Pike from the United States. Sho Watanabe from Japan also competed.

For the women's wheelchair race, Susannah Scaroni from the United States aimed to win again. Tatyana McFadden, also from the U.S., hoped to win her tenth Chicago Marathon. Manuela Schär from Switzerland wanted to win her third title.

Results

Men

Elite men's top 10 finishers

Position	Athlete	Nationality	Time
	Kiptum, KelvinKelvin Kiptum	Kenya	02:00:35 WR
	Kipruto, BensonBenson Kipruto	Kenya	02:04:02
	Abdi, BashirBashir Abdi	Belgium	02:04:32
4	Korir, JohnJohn Korir	Kenya	02:05:29
5	Tura Abdiwak, SeifuSeifu Tura Abdiwak	Ethiopia	02:05:09
6	Mantz, ConnerConner Mantz	United States	02:07:47
7	Young, ClaytonClayton Young	United States	02:08:00
8	Rupp, GalenGalen Rupp	United States	02:08:48
9	Chelanga, SamSam Chelanga	United States	02:08:50
10	Ichida, TakashiTakashi Ichida	Japan	02:08:57

Women

Elite women's top 10 finishers

Position	Athlete	Nationality	Time
	Hassan, SifanSifan Hassan	Netherlands	02:13:44 CR
	Chepngetich, RuthRuth Chepngetich	Kenya	02:15:37
	Alemu, MegertuMegertu Alemu	Ethiopia	02:17:09
4	Jepkosgei, JoycilineJoyciline Jepkosgei	Kenya	02:17:23
5	Teshome Nare, TaduTadu Teshome Nare	Ethiopia	02:20:04
6	Dibaba Keneni, GenzebeGenzebe Dibaba Keneni	Ethiopia	02:21:47
7	Sisson, EmilyEmily Sisson	United States	02:22:09
8	Seidel, MollyMolly Seidel	United States	02:23:07
9	Harvey, RoseRose Harvey	United Kingdom	02:23:21
10	Vaughn, SaraSara Vaughn	United States	02:23:24

See also

In Spanish: Maratón de Chicago de 2023 para niños