FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Top Athletes Headline the 2021 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Elite
Athlete Field Event organizers release COVID-19 guidelines
to create a safe racing environment for all participants
CHICAGO - The Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced today that it will
host some of the world's best elite athletes as it prepares for the 43rd
running of the event. In addition to previously announced Americans Galen
Rupp and Sara Hall, Getaneh Molla (ETH), Seifu Tura (ETH), Ruth Chepngetich
(KEN), Keira D'Amato (USA), and Emma Bates (USA) are among the stars
headlining this year's field. Local runners Chris Derrick (USA) and Lindsay
Flanagan (USA) are also among the top athletes in this year's field. Adding
to the excitement, past champions Daniel Romanchuk (USA), Marcel Hug (SWI),
Tatyana McFadden (USA), and Amanda McGrory (USA) will race for the victory
in the elite wheelchair competition.
"We are excited to welcome so many outstanding athletes to Grant Park this
fall," said Bank of America Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director Carey
Pinkowski. "While we expect to see fast times up front, we are focusing on
celebrating every athlete in this year's field - and the personal stories,
challenges, and triumphs that they bring with them. This event is special
in so many ways because it captures the human spirit - from the first
runner across the line to the last."
This year's marathon coincides with the elation of an Olympic year and the
thrill of a fall racing season that includes all six of the Abbott World
Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM). With seven sub 2:06 men in the field vying for
their first AbbottWMM victory, the stage is set for a dramatic race up
front. Top athletes in the men's elite field include two-time Olympic
medalist Galen Rupp; 2019 Dubai Marathon champion with a personal best of
2:03:34, Getaneh Molla; 2018 Valencia Marathon runner-up with a personal
best of 2:04:43, Hassan El Abbassi (BRN); and fourth place finisher at the
2021 Milan Marathon with a personal best of 2:04:29, Seifu Tura. The
following four athletes boast 2:05 personal bests: Shifera Tamru (ETH),
Joel Kimurer (KEN), Eric Kiptanui (KEN), and Laban Korir (KEN). 2018 USATF
Half Marathon champion Chris Derrick (USA) from Naperville will join five
local elites from the Second City Track Club, including Dan Kremske (USA),
in the elite competition.
"The 2021 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will undoubtedly be a special
one," said Kremske. "I've missed the excitement of Marathon Sunday and
cannot wait to experience that energy again this October. I look forward to
sharing in the joy of my fellow Chicagoans as we make our triumphant return
to racing. My hope is that Marathon Sunday will be a celebration of one
another, our great city, and the resilience of the human spirit."
Kenyan sensation Ruth Chepngetich will make her Bank of America Chicago
Marathon debut. Chepngetich made a splash when she set the world record in
the half marathon this spring, breaking the tape in 1:04:02; she is also
the 2019 marathon world champion, and she holds a marathon personal best of
2:17:08, making her the fourth fastest woman in history. Keira D'Amato and
Emma Bates join Sara Hall as the top Americans in the field. D'Amato
carries one of the most inspiring stories in the field. She took a
seven-year break from running, returned to the roads in 2016, and had a
breakthrough season in 2020, including a 12-minute PR in the marathon,
2:22:56, and an American record in the 10 mile. Bates, the 2018 U.S.
marathon champion, comes into this year's competition with a 2:25:27 PR,
set in Chicago in 2019.
"I have never raced in the States and making my debut in such a great race
like the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is more than a dream to me," said
Chepngetich. "I will give all myself trying to run as fast as possible. The
presence of such a wonderful elite field will boost me."
The elite wheelchair competition includes several athletes competing
back-to-back in Chicago (Sunday, October 10) and Boston (Monday, October
11). Daniel Romanchuk, Marcel Hug, and Tatyana McFadden plan to complete
the double, making for a grueling but exciting fall season of racing.
McFadden stands out as the most decorated athlete in Bank of America
Chicago Marathon history with eight championships. 2018 and 2019 champion,
Romanchuk, and two-time champion, Hug, could propel each other to course
record times if the conditions are right.
"The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is where my Abbott World Marathon
Majors journey began back when I was 16 and where I won for the first time,
so it's very special to me," said Romanchuk. "We've all been eagerly
anticipating the return of in-person marathon racing, and I can't wait to
get back to the streets of Chicago!"
Updated COVID-19 Guidelines
The event today also shared COVID-19 guidelines to help create a safe
racing environment for all 35,000 registered participants. Registered
participants are required to provide proof of a complete COVID-19
vaccination series or a negative COVID-19 test result to participate in the
2021 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Registered participants who are not
fully vaccinated are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result
for a test administered within 72 hours of attending the Bank of America
Chicago Marathon (Sunday, October 10). The event defines "fully vaccinated"
as individuals who are two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose
vaccine series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine.
Proof of vaccination (hard copy, photocopy or digital version of an
immunization record) or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of
attending the event is required for entrance to the Abbott Health & Fitness
Expo. Individuals unable to prove full vaccination or negative test will be
barred from entering the Health & Fitness Expo and unable to pick up the
necessary race materials that allow for participation in the event.
This policy recognizes COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use by the Federal
Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Accepted
COVID-19 tests are those that have received FDA emergency use authorization
(EUA) and include RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, lateral flow, and rapid antigen tests.
All attendees are required to wear face coverings while at indoor event
venues, including the Abbott Health & Fitness Expo. Face coverings must be
two-ply at a minimum and cover the mouth and nose securely. Single-ply neck
gaiters and face shields are not acceptable face coverings.
Participants are encouraged to wear face coverings in Grant Park prior to
starting the race. Additional face coverings will be available post-finish
for participants.
The 43rd running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on
Sunday, October 10.
Men's Open Division
NAME PERSONAL BEST COUNTRY
Getaneh Molla 2:03:34 (Dubai, 2019) ETH
Seifu Tura 2:04:29 (Milan, 2021) ETH
Hassan El Abbassi 2:04:43 (Valencia, 2018) BRN
Shifera Tamru 2:05:18 (Dubai, 2019) ETH
Joel Kimurer 2:05:19 (Milan, 2021) KEN
Eric Kiptanui 2:05:47 (Siena, 2021) KEN
Laban Korir 2:05:54 (Amsterdam, 2016) KEN
Galen Rupp 2:06:07 (Prague, 2018) USA
Fikre Bekele 2:06:27 (Seoul, 2019) ETH
Masato Kikuchi 2:07:20 (Otsu, 2021) JPN
Derlys Ayala 2:10:11 (Valencia, 2020) PAR
Ivan Gonzalez 2:11:07 (Valencia, 2020) COL
Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse 2:11:20 (Chandler AZ, 2020) FRA
Colin Mickow 2:11:22 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
Wilkerson Given 2:11:44 (Chicago, 2019) USA
Wily Canchanya 2:12:33 (Prague, 2021) PER
Chris Derrick 2:12:50 (Chicago, 2017) USA
Josh Izewski 2:13:15 (Sacramento, 2018) USA
Mike Sayenko 2:13:34 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
Nico Montanez 2:14:07 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
John Tello 2:14:19 (Lima, 2021) COL
Sid Vaughn 2:14:28 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
Alan Peterson 2:14:45 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
Dan Kremske 2:14:53 (Chicago, 2019) USA
Brett Lustgarten 2:17:18 (Sacramento, 2018) USA
Kurt Roeser 2:17:59 (Sacramento, 2018) USA
Oscar Medina 2:18:45 (Chicago, 2019) USA
Reed Fischer 2:24:48 (Atlanta, 2020) USA
Clayton Young 2:29:46 (Atlanta, 2020) USA
Abdisamed Abdi Debut USA
Ben Kendell Debut USA
Ian Lamere Debut USA
Zach Panning Debut USA
Gonzalo Parra Debut MEX
Women's Open Division
NAME PERSONAL BEST COUNTRY
Ruth Chepngetich 2:17:08 (Dubai, 2019) KEN
Sara Hall 2:20:32 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
Keira D'Amato 2:22:56 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
Emma Bates 2:25:27 (Chicago, 2019) USA
Diane Nukuri 2:27:50 (London, 2015) USA
Lindsay Flanagan 2:28:08 (Chicago, 2019) USA
Bria Wetsch 2:29:50 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
Vianey DeLaRosa 2:30:04 (Valley NE, 2021) MEX
Michelle Lee 2:30:31 (Sacramento, 2018) USA
Alia Gray 2:30:41 (Chandler AZ, 2020) USA
Bridget Lyons Belyeu 2:31:00 (Sacramento, 2018) USA
Daiana Ocampo 2:31:33 (Vienna, 2020) ARG
Rosie Edwards 2:31:56 (London, 2021) GBR
Jane Bareikis 2:33:54 (Duluth, 2021) USA
Chirine Njeim 2:36:40 (Dorena Lake, OR, 2021) LBN
Georgia Porter 2:36:52 (Frankfurt, 2019) USA
Anne-Marie Blaney Debut USA
Megan O'Neil Debut USA
Olivia Pratt Debut USA
Carrie Verdon Debut USA
Jessica Watychowicz Debut USA
Men's Wheelchair Division
NAME PERSONAL BEST COUNTRY
Marcel Hug** 1:18:04 (Boston, 2017) SWI
Josh Cassidy** 1:18:25 (Boston, 2012) CAN
Aaron Pike** 1:20:59 (Duluth MN, 2019) USA
Daniel Romanchuk** 1:21:36 (Boston, 2019) USA
Rafael Botello 1:22:09 (Boston, 2017) ESP
Jordi Madera 1:22:10 (Boston, 2017) ESP
James Senbeta** 1:24:27 (Boston, 2017) USA
Krige Schabort 1:26:04 (Boston, 2002) USA
Sho Watanabe** 1:26:22 (Seoul, 2017) JPN
Brent Lakatos 1:29:41 (Berlin, 2018) CAN
Brian Siemann 1:27:00 (Boston, 2017) USA
Johnboy Smith** 1:29:44 (Berlin, 2017) GBR
Gyu Dae Kim 1:30:08 (Rio, 2016) KOR
Christian Clemmons** 1:38:08 (Duluth MN, 2019) USA
Joey Gibbs 1:39:06 (Duluth MN, 2019) USA
Philip Croft Debut USA
Isaiah Rigo Debut USA
Jason Robinson Debut USA
Women's Wheelchair Division
NAME PERSONAL BEST COUNTRY
Tatyana McFadden** 1:31:30 (Duluth MN, 2019) USA
Amanda McGrory 1:33:13 (Boston, 2017) USA
Jenna Fesemyer** 1:37:02 (Duluth MN, 2019) USA
Madison De Rozario 1:39:22 (Chicago, 2017) AUS
Vanessa De Souza** 1:45:19 (Oita, 2018) BRA
Michelle Wheeler** 1:45:55 (Oita, 2018) USA
Yen Hoang** 2:01:06 (Boston, 2019) USA
Samantha Rhodes Debut USA
**Wheelchair athletes competing in Chicago on Sunday, October 10 and Boston
on Monday, October 11.
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomes thousands of participants
from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class
elite field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut
marathoners and charity participants. The race’s iconic course takes
runners through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural
tour of Chicago. For more information about the event and how to get
involved, go to chicagomarathon.com.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other
important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for
news email alerts.
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