The 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon saw world records, course records, and history made in a variety of ways, all in spectacular moments of the race’s storied heritage.
The 2023 race will feature record-breaking moments in each division of the Chicago Marathon, is expected to include the largest number of runners in history, and reached the milestone of the 1 millionth finisher crossing the finish line .
In addition to the record, the U.S. Olympic hopefuls posted promising numbers heading into the 2024 Paris Games.
To keep you excited, here are some of the key moments from this year’s marathon finish line.
World record set at Chicago Marathon
Rookie Kelvin Kiptum completed his first Bank of America Chicago Marathon in historic fashion, not only winning the 2023 race and defeating defending champion Benson Kipruto, but also winning in the process. There is also the possibility of setting a world record.
Kelvin Kiptum completed his first U.S. marathon in world record time on Sunday.
The Kenyan runner turned heads in his US marathon debut in Chicago, finishing in an official time of 2:00:35, beating Eliud Kipchoge’s world record of 2:01:09.
“The world record wasn’t on my mind today… but I knew that one day I would be a world record holder,” Kiptam said at the finish line, adding, “I’m very happy.”
When Kiptam crossed the finish line, his excitement was palpable and he was almost immediately hugged by Carrie Pinkowski, executive race director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
“It’s been a long time since there’s been a men’s record,” Pinkowski said, adding that the world record follows some of the greatest runners in the history of the race.
“It just reminds me of everything,” Pinkowski said. “When I first saw Kelvin, I told everyone he was a special guy…He was really great. One of the great runs I’ve seen.”
Rookie Kelvin Kiptum completed his first Bank of America Chicago Marathon in historic fashion, not only winning the 2023 race and defeating defending champion Benson Kipruto, but also winning in the process. There is also the possibility of setting a world record.
Kiptam won the 2023 London Marathon for the second time, almost breaking the world record at the time. He finished the race in 2 hours, 1 minute, 25 seconds, just 16 seconds shy of Kipchoge’s world record.
Kiptum predicted a record would be broken at this year’s Chicago race, but would only say that a course record was likely.
“If the weather is nice on Sunday, I think I’ll be under the current course record,” Kiptum said Friday.
But as he continued his run in Chicago, he set his sights higher.
“Yes, I saw the time in front of me and I said let’s try. Maybe I can run within two seconds,” he said.
Although he unfortunately missed out on the race that lasted less than two hours, he still succeeded in making history.
Women’s course record and second fastest time in marathon history
Sifan Hassan shocked the world in her U.S. marathon debut Sunday, setting an unofficial course record at the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, beating two-time defending champion Ruth Chepenge. Defeated Titch.
Sifan Hassan made her US and Chicago debut at this year’s race and maintained an incredible dominance in marathon running, setting a course record and finishing with the second fastest time in women’s marathon history.
Hassan won the 2022 Chicago Marathon, surprising runners who came perilously close to setting a world record, topping two-time defending champion Ruth Chepgetich to lead the women’s division.
“I’m just grateful. I’m very happy,” Hassan said at the finish line. “But during the last 5km I told myself I would never do it again.”
Hassan from the Netherlands made his marathon debut in London last April and won with a new national record despite stopping twice to stretch. Hassan finished without stopping on the Chicago course in an official time of 2:13:44, beating the course record of 2:14:04 set by Brigid Kosgei in 2019.
However, Hassan missed out on setting a world record in his own race, as Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa had just set a new world record in Berlin prior to the Chicago race. The current time is 2:11:53.
Sifan Hassan shocked the world in her U.S. marathon debut Sunday, setting an unofficial course record at the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, beating two-time defending champion Ruth Chepenge. Defeated Titch.
2 Wheelchair course record
Men’s course results
Marcel Hug, known as the “Silver Bullet,” has once again delivered a record-breaking performance as he retains his title at the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Marcel Hug, known as the “Silver Bullet,” broke the course record he set a year earlier by completing the 2023 Chicago Marathon.
Switzerland’s Puffer crossed the finish line in an official time of 1 hour 22 minutes 37 seconds, breaking the course record of 1 hour 26 minutes 56 seconds set in 2022.
“Oh, I can’t believe it. I felt great in the morning. I tried to break the record, but it’s so crazy. I can’t believe it,” Hug said at the finish line.
Marcel Hug, known as the “Silver Bullet,” defended his championship status at the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon with another record-breaking performance.
Hug finished well below his rivals, including one of his biggest rivals on the course, another former champion, Daniel Romanchuk.
“I was just trying to go fast from the start because I was trying to break the course record, so I got to the front and didn’t look back after that. But then one day I looked back and there was nobody there. Yeah,” I just tried to keep up my pace. ”
Women’s course results
Rookie Katherine DeBrunner won the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Wheelchair Race on Sunday, defeating defending champion and fierce competitor Susanna Scaloni with a breathtaking sprint to the finish line. .
Katherine DeBrunner won her first wheelchair race at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, setting a course record with a breathtaking sprint to the finish line.
Debrunner took a late lead over defending champion and fierce rival Susanna Scaloni, and the two continued to battle until the final moments at the finish line.
The 2023 win was won by Scaloni, who fought hard on the course throughout the race and won by just a few seconds.
“I had a really great race with Susanna Scaloni,” DeBrunner said at the finish line. “She pushed really hard and yeah, we did it together, like we did in Berlin, and she attacked really hard on the last hill.”
The 2023 Chicago Marathon will be only the fourth marathon of DeBrunner’s career. She finished in her official time of 1:38:44, breaking the previous women’s wheelchair race course record of 1:39:15.
“Oh, it was a great race. It’s my first time coming to Chicago,” DeBruner said. “And I have to say I really love this city. It’s beautiful. It’s a lake with a skyline.”
Debrunner had never competed in a marathon before taking the top spot at the 2022 Berlin Marathon with a time of 1 hour, 36 minutes, 47 seconds. She also won the London Marathon a week later.
Rookie Katherine DeBrunner won the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Wheelchair Race on Sunday, defeating defending champion and fierce competitor Susanna Scaloni with a breathtaking sprint to the finish line. .