Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic 5000m medalist, notched the biggest road victory of his career Sunday, taking the Chicago Marathon title.
The Kenyan clocked 2 hours, 4 minutes, 11 seconds. It was slower than the following notable times:
2:02:57 — world record set by Dennis Kimetto at the Berlin Marathon two weeks ago.
2:03:45 — Chicago course record set by Kimetto in 2013.
2:04:05 — Kipchoge’s personal best set at 2013 Berlin Marathon.
“I feel comfortable,” Kipchoge said on NBC Chicago. “I missed my target [time].”
Ethiopian Kenensia Bekele, the greatest track distance runner of all time, was fourth in 2:05:51 in his second career marathon.
Kenyan Rita Jeptoo won her second straight Chicago Marathon in an unofficial 2:24:36, adding to her 2006, 2013 and 2014 Boston Marathon titles.
“I’m the queen of Chicago,” Jeptoo said on NBC Chicago.
Tatyana McFadden, a Summer and Winter Paralympic medalist, won the women’s wheelchair race. She has won seven straight World Marathon Majors and can complete an unprecedented second straight sweep at the New York City Marathon.
The New York City Marathon, headlined by Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi, is Nov. 2.
