When you visit the Bank of America Chicago Marathon website, you’ll be greeted by a giant countdown timer, reminding you that this World Marathon Majors event is just a week away. While that alone is thrilling, what truly sets the course apart is its reputation as the flattest among all six Marathon Majors. Ben Parkes from The Extra Mile YouTube channel explains why this feature is significant.

“The Chicago Marathon course is incredibly fast, incredibly flat. Huge PB and PR potential,” Parkes said in a September 27 video. The marathon enthusiast and YouTuber was part of last year’s historic edition that saw Kelvin Kiptum set a new course and world record. Unfortunately, the track and field icon won’t be there to defend his world record owing to his untimely death on February 11, 2024. However, some of the best marathoners in the world will run in honor of the late champion.

The marathoners to watch out for at Chicago 2024

2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto is set to hit the streets of Chicago on October 13. The 32-year-old Kenyan will run in honor of his late compatriot, Kelvin Kiptum. Kipruto is making his return after finishing last year’s Berlin Marathon in 2:04:49. As a training partner of Paris Olympics marathon bronze medalist Benson Kipruto, he aims to clinch victory in this year’s Chicago Marathon.

However, for Kipruto to secure victory, he will need to overcome fellow Kenyan Vincent Ngetich, who has been more active this season and boasts a personal best of 2:04:18. In addition to these Kenyan stars, U.S. marathoners are eager to make their mark on home soil. 2024 Paris Olympic Trials participants Zach Panning and CJ Albertson are both seeking redemption in this highly competitive field.

After fishing in 6th and 7th, respectively placing at the trails, the duo are eager to prove themselves at the 2024 Chicago Marathon. “Chicago feels like home. It’s where I debuted in the marathon, and it’s where I ran my personal best.” Panning told the Bank of America Newsroom in July. CJ Albertson clocked in 2:09:53 at this year’s Boston Marathon and is also hoping to improve his time.

The 2024 Chicago Marathon also features some of the fastest women in the world. Last year’s champion Sifan Hassan won’t be here to defend her crown after earning marathon gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, that means the field will open for athletes such as Sutume Kebede. Kebede currently occupies the top spot on the World Athletics marathon ranking list.

Sutume Kebede set a season-best time of 2:15:55 at the Tokyo leg of the World Marathon Majors in March. “I am extremely happy to come back to Chicago,” Kebede said, as she is looking to redeem herself from last year’s disappointing run in Chicago. However, world no. 6, Joyciline Jepkosgei will look to spoil the Ethiopian’s comeback.

Joining Jepkosgei on the course will be fellow Team Kenya athlete Irine Cheptai. However, Cheptai will need to make significant improvements if she hopes to beat Kebede, as her season-best time is nearly three minutes behind Kebede’s impressive 2:15:55 finish at the Tokyo Marathon in March 2024. In addition to pursuing personal bests, the elite runners in Chicago are also aiming to set new records.

The records that may fall at the Chicago Marathon

With an elevation gain of just 74 meters, the Chicago Marathon is the perfect venue for the world’s elite runners to chase records. Last year, Kelvin Kiptum demonstrated why top athletes target this race by completing the course in an astounding 2:00:35. Not only did the late Kenyan champion set a new world record, but he also established the course record for the event.

While Sifan Hassan didn’t set a world record, her 2:13:44-hour run set a new course record in 2023. So after a historic 2023 edition, the organizers and participants are hoping to raise the bar even higher in 2024. “We are accustomed to making history at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon,” Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski told the Bank of America Newsroom.

While athletes such as Amos Kipruto will be running in honor of the late record holder, they’ll also try to break it. “My goal is to try to run a personal best,” said, while adding that he expects nothing less but the victory. However, only time will tell if that victory comes in a record-setting time. Meanwhile, Kebede has already admitted to gunning for Hassan’s record, albeit indirectly.

“After seeing what my teammate Kelvin Kiptum did last year, I want to come to Chicago to do something great,” said Kebede, who trained with Kiptum’s group while preparing for last year’s Chicago Marathon. Besides individual records, the Chicago Marathon is set to break its participation record in a week.

With over 50,000 participants anticipated this year, the marathon is set to break its previous record of 48,398 marathoners from last year. Are you excited about the annual World Marathon Majors race? Let us know in the comments!