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2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon - Men's Preview
by John Elliott
Photo Credit: Victah Sailer/PhotoRun
Former Champ Mosop Returns to Chicago
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For years, the Chicago Marathon had an inferiority complex. While everyone knew that the Chicago Marathon's course was flat and fast and had been the scene of a number of world records in the men's and women's marathon races - the finishing times at the race had fallen behind those of its rivals and partners. Even with new course records in 2009 (Sammy Wanjiru, 2:05:41) and 2011 (Moses Mosop, 2:05:37), those records were behind the best times at all of the other World Marathon Majors races (including the difficult NYC Marathon course) and slower than a half dozen other marathons as well, including Frankfurt, Rotterdam, Dubai, Paris, Seoul and Fukuoka.
But in 2012, all of that changed. With a stellar field, three men ran faster than the course record of the prior year and the new record - Tsegay Kebede's 2:04:38 - set Chicago up to claim its rightful place as clearly one of the fastest courses in the world.
For the 2013 race, Chicago has brought together four men who have previously run faster than 2:05: Moses Mosop (2:03:06 at wind-aided 2012 Boston Marathon), Dennis Kimetto (2:04:16 at 2012 Berlin Marathon), Ayele Abshero (2:04;23 at 2012 Dubai Marathon) and Emmanuel Mutai (2:04:40 at 2011 London Marathon).
Of the speed demons, a number of pundits give Dennis Kimetto the nod as favorite given that he has run only two marathons but both have been stellar: the fastest debut in history at 2:04:16) and his new course record win at the 2013 Tokyo Marathon in 2:06:50. Moses Mosop will be looking to reclaim his title and perhaps course record after not coming to defend his title in 2012 as he was tapped to represent Kenya at the Olympic Games - he has been out for injury and the 2013 Chicago Marathon will also mark his comeback with much on the line.
In addition to the men mentioned previously, Sammy Kitwara, Zersenay Tadesse and Micah Kogo are three with great promise and three to watch. Kitwara was fourth at the 2012 Chicago Marathon in 2:05:54 in his debut marathon - but his 58:48 Half Marathon best time suggests he may be capable of even more. Zersenay Tadesse holds the fastest two times ever run at the Half Marathon distance - 58:23 and 58:30 - but has failed to run faster than 2:10 at his two attempts at the marathon...will the 2013 Chicago Marathon be his breakthrough marathon? Lastly, Micah Kogo's only marathon time of 2:10:27 might have people forget this Kenyan - except that his time was achieved while placing second at the Boston Marathon and his 59:07 Half Marathon time suggests he can run with the best.
And for the Americans... While we Americans love all of the elite runners, we always hope that an American can rise to be among the best in the world. Dathan Ritzenhein's breakthrough 2:07:47 at the 2012 Chicago Marathon suggest that he is almost there - and we will be waiting to see how and whether he can improve on that. And Matt Tegenkamp, the USA Olympian at 5000m in 2008 and 10000m in 2012, will be running his debut marathon at Chicago - while we can't expect Tegenkamp to compete for a win or top three finish, we will look forward to seeing whether America will boast another credible marathoner in its roster.
Elite Men's Lineup: back to top
Male Elite Athletes |
Athlete | Country | Bib | Personal Best | Chicago |
Moses Mosop (28) | KEN | 2 | 2:03:06, Boston, 2011 | History |
Dennis Kimetto (29) | KEN | 3 | 2:04:16, Berlin, 2012 | History |
Ayele Abshero (22) | ETH | 4 | 2:04:23, Dubai, 2012 | History |
Emannuel Mutai (29) | KEN | 5 | 2:04:40, London, 2011 | History |
Sammy Kitwara (26) | KEN | 6 | 2:05:54, Chicago, 2012 | History |
Tariku Jufar (30) | ETH | 7 | 2:06:51, Houston, 2012 | History |
Atsedu Tsegay (21) | ETH | 8 | Debut | History |
Dathan Ritzenhein (31) | USA | 9 | 2:07:47, Chicago, 2012 | History |
Mike Kigen (27) | KEN | 10 | 2:08:24, Dubai, 2013 | History |
Yoshinori Oda (33) | JPN | 11 | 2:09:03, Tokyo, 2011 | History |
Micah Kogo (27) | KEN | 12 | 2:10:27, Boston, 2013 | History |
Zersenay Tadese (31) | ERI | 13 | 2:10:41, London, 2012 | History |
Matt Tegenkamp (31) | USA | 14 | Debut | History |
Merkebu Birke (25) | ETH | 15 | Debut | History |
Tesfaye Sendeku (29) | ETH | 16 | 2:11:17, San Diego, 2012 | History |
Michael Shelley (29) | AUS | 17 | 2:11:23, Amsterdam, 2011 | History |
Eliud Ngetich (19) | KEN | 18 | 2:11:59, Duluth, 2013 | History |
Kenji Higashino (27) | JPN | 19 | 2:12:13, Oita, 2013 | History |
Hiroaki Sano (25) | JPN | 20 | 2:12:14, Nobeoka, 2013 | History |
Hirokatsu Kurosaki (28) | JPN | 21 | 2:12:22, Nobeoka, 2013 | History |
Yoshiki Ohtsuka (26) | JPN | 22 | 2:12:51, Oita, 2013 | History |
Hiroki Tanaka (30) | JPN | 23 | 2:13:09, Tokyo, 2013 | History |
Norihide Fujimori (28) | JPN | 24 | 2:13:11, Tokyo, 2013 | History |
Sean Quigley (28) | USA | 25 | 2:14:12, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon, 2012 | History |
Mike Morgan (33) | USA | 26 | 2:14:22, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon, 2012 | History |
Mike Sayenko (29) | USA | 27 | 2:14:27, Chicago, 2010 | History |
Craig Leon (28) | USA | 28 | 2:14:38, Boston, 2013 | History |
Luke Humphrey (32) | USA | 29 | 2:14:39, San Diego, 2011 | History |
Matt Dewald (31) | USA | 30 | 2:17:42, Duluth, 2013 | History |
Chris Pannone (27) | USA | 31 | 2:18:05, Boston, 2011 | History |
Stephen Muturi (38) | USA | 32 | 2:18:51, Minneapolis-St. Paul, 2009 | History |
Eric Loeffler (36) | USA | 33 | 2:18:36, Sacramento, 2011 | History |
Chris Siemers (32) | USA | 34 | 2:18:48, Rock N Roll Denver Marathon, 2011 | History |
Brandon Mull (27) | USA | 35 | 2:20:03, Chicago, 2009 | History |
Dastaho Dvench (37) | ISR | 36 | 2:20:07, Paris, 2007 | History |
Dan Kremske (24) | USA | 37 | Debut | History |
Jared Ward (25) | USA | 38 | Debut | History |
Pius Nyantika | KEN | 39 | 2:15:50, Paris, 2011 | History |
Chris Barnicle (26) | USA | | Debut | History |
Tilahun Regassa (23) | ETH | | 2:05:27, Chicago, 2012 | History |
Paul Lonyangata (21) | KEN | | 2:07:44, Xiamen, 2013 | History |
Ricky Flynn (26) | USA | | 2:13:41, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon, 2012 | History |
Past Head-To-Head Men's Athlete Meetings back to top
Boston - Apr 18, 2022 |
21
|
Mike Sayenko (USA)
|
2:13:46
|
26
|
Jared Ward (USA)
|
2:15:24
|
The Marathon Project - Dec 20, 2020 |
18
|
Mike Sayenko (USA)
|
2:13:34
|
32
|
Dan Kremske (USA)
|
2:15:36
|
35
|
Jared Ward (USA)
|
2:16:35
|
2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon - Feb 29, 2020 |
27
|
Jared Ward (USA)
|
2:15:54
|
32
|
Mike Sayenko (USA)
|
2:16:46
|
41
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:17:53
|
112
|
Brandon Mull (USA)
|
2:25:56
|
New York City - Nov 3, 2019 |
6
|
Jared Ward (USA)
|
2:10:45
|
24
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:18:20
|
Boston - Apr 15, 2019 |
8
|
Jared Ward (USA)
|
2:09:25
|
19
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:16:19
|
Sacramento - Dec 3, 2017 |
7
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:13:41
|
23
|
Eric Loeffler (USA)
|
2:17:34
|
Valencia - Nov 19, 2017 |
1
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)
|
2:05:15
|
12
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:10:14
|
Chicago - Oct 8, 2017 |
8
|
Zersenay Tadese (ERI)
|
2:12:19
|
10
|
Michael Shelley (AUS)
|
2:12:52
|
27
|
Chris Siemers (USA)
|
2:23:52
|
London - Apr 23, 2017 |
10
|
Michael SHELLEY (AUS)
|
2:11:38
|
30
|
Tilahun REGASSA (ETH)
|
2:18:53
|
Boston - Apr 17, 2017 |
10
|
Jared Ward (USA)
|
2:15:28
|
11
|
Sean Quigley (USA)
|
2:15:34
|
18
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:19:33
|
24
|
Luke Humphrey (USA)
|
2:23:12
|
30
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:25:02
|
34
|
Eric Loeffler (USA)
|
2:26:00
|
Paris - Apr 9, 2017 |
1
|
Paul Lonyangata (KEN)
|
2:06:10
|
10
|
Micah Kogo (KEN)
|
2:10:03
|
Chicago - Oct 9, 2016 |
4
|
Paul Lonyangata (KEN)
|
2:13:17
|
18
|
Micah Kogo (KEN)
|
2:20:03
|
Rio de Janeiro Olympics - Aug 21, 2016 |
6
|
Jared WARD (USA)
|
2:11:30
|
47
|
Michael SHELLEY (AUS)
|
2:18:06
|
London - Apr 24, 2016 |
6
|
Tilahun Regassa (ETH)
|
2:09:47
|
9
|
Dennis Kimetto (KEN)
|
2:11:44
|
Boston - Apr 18, 2016 |
5
|
Paul Lonyangata (KEN)
|
2:15:45
|
6
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN )
|
2:16:43
|
Los Angeles Trials - Feb 13, 2016 |
3
|
Jared Ward (USA)
|
2:13:00
|
9
|
Sean Quigley (USA)
|
2:15:52
|
22
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:20:59
|
29
|
Craig Leon (USA )
|
2:22:47
|
Chicago - Oct 11, 2015 |
2
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)
|
2:09:50
|
29
|
Brandon Mull (USA)
|
2:22:54
|
40
|
Dan Kremske (USA)
|
2:24:42
|
London - Apr 26, 2015 |
3
|
Dennis Kimetto (KEN)
|
2:05:50
|
5
|
Tilahun Regassa (ETH)
|
2:07:16
|
6
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)
|
2:07:43
|
11
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:10:54
|
12
|
Michael Shelley (AUS)
|
2:11:19
|
Boston - Apr 20, 2015 |
7
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:11:20
|
11
|
Matt Tegenkamp (USA)
|
2:13:52
|
Los Angeles - Mar 15, 2015 |
3
|
JARED WARD (USA)
|
2:12:56
|
7
|
MIKE MORGAN (USA)
|
2:16:56
|
19
|
LUKE HUMPHREY (USA)
|
2:25:43
|
Xiamen - Jan 3, 2015 |
1
|
Moses Mosop (KEN)
|
2:06:19
|
2
|
Tilahun Regassa (ETH)
|
2:06:54
|
Sacramento - Dec 7, 2014 |
4
|
Eliud Ngetich (AUS)
|
2:15:28
|
17
|
Eric Loeffler (USA)
|
2:18:18
|
Chicago - Oct 12, 2014 |
2
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)
|
2:04:28
|
15
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:14:42
|
19
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:16:00
|
27
|
Luke Humphrey (USA)
|
2:18:19
|
36
|
Dan Kremske (USA)
|
2:21:17
|
Berlin - Sep 28, 2014 |
1
|
Dennis Kimetto (KEN)
|
2:02:57
|
2
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:03:13
|
Boston - Apr 21, 2014 |
9
|
Paul Lonyangata (KEN)
|
2:12:34
|
12
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:14:28
|
17
|
Micah Kogo (ERI)
|
2:17:12
|
38
|
Matt Dewald (USA)
|
2:24:35
|
London - Apr 13, 2014 |
4
|
Ayele Absehero (ETH)
|
2:06:31
|
7
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:08:19
|
Tokyo - Feb 23, 2014 |
3
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)
|
2:06:30
|
11
|
Hirokatsu Kurosaki (JPN)
|
2:09:07
|
Chicago - Oct 13, 2013 |
1
|
Dennis Kimetto (KEN)
|
2:03:45
|
2
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:03:52
|
3
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)
|
2:05:16
|
4
|
Micah Kogo (KEN)
|
2:06:56
|
5
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:09:45
|
6
|
Ayele Absehero (ETH)
|
2:10:10
|
7
|
Hiroaki Sano (JPN)
|
2:10:29
|
8
|
Moses Mosop (KEN)
|
2:11:19
|
9
|
Yoshinori Oda (JPN)
|
2:11:29
|
10
|
Matt Tegenkamp (USA)
|
2:12:28
|
11
|
Mike Kigen (KEN)
|
2:12:40
|
12
|
Michael Shelley (ETH)
|
2:13:09
|
13
|
Kenji Higashino (JPN)
|
2:13:52
|
14
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:13:52
|
15
|
Norihide Fujimori (JPN)
|
2:13:54
|
16
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:15:01
|
18
|
Hiroki Tanaka (JPN)
|
2:15:35
|
19
|
Jared Ward (USA)
|
2:16:17
|
21
|
Pius Nyantika (KEN)
|
2:17:38
|
22
|
Sean Quigley (USA)
|
2:17:45
|
23
|
Brandon Mull (USA)
|
2:18:14
|
24
|
Eric Loeffler (USA)
|
2:18:39
|
25
|
Dan Kremske (USA)
|
2:18:52
|
26
|
Matt Dewald (USA)
|
2:19:30
|
47
|
Stephen Muturi (USA)
|
2:26:02
|
Duluth - Jun 22, 2013 |
3
|
Eliud Ngetich (AUS)
|
2:11:59
|
16
|
Matt Dewald (USA)
|
2:17:42
|
London - Apr 21, 2013 |
2
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:06:33
|
3
|
Ayele Absehero (ETH)
|
2:06:57
|
Boston - Apr 15, 2013 |
2
|
Micah Kogo (KEN)
|
2:10:27
|
10
|
Craig Leon (USA)
|
2:14:38
|
20
|
Matt Dewald (USA)
|
2:19:35
|
Rotterdam - Apr 14, 2013 |
1
|
Tilahun Regassa (ETH)
|
2:05:38
|
3
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)
|
2:07:22
|
Chicago - Oct 7, 2012 |
3
|
Tilahun Regassa (ETH)
|
2:05:27
|
4
|
Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)
|
2:05:54
|
9
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:07:47
|
20
|
Craig Leon (USA )
|
2:15:38
|
28
|
Stephen Muturi (KEN)
|
2:19:37
|
London Olympics - Aug 12, 2012 |
16
|
Michael SHELLEY (AUS)
|
2:14:10
|
17
|
Emmanuel MUTAI (KEN)
|
2:14:49
|
London - Apr 22, 2012 |
7
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:08:01
|
14
|
Zersenay Tadese (ERI)
|
2:10:41
|
Dubai - Jan 27, 2012 |
1
|
Ayele Absehero (ETH)
|
2:04:23
|
Houston Trials - Jan 14, 2012 |
12
|
Ricky Flynn (USA)
|
2:13:41
|
16
|
Sean Quigley (USA)
|
2:14:12
|
17
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:14:22
|
26
|
Craig Leon (USA )
|
2:15:42
|
30
|
Mike Sayenko (USA)
|
2:16:40
|
77
|
Eric Loeffler (USA)
|
2:25:05
|
Chicago - Oct 9, 2011 |
1
|
Moses Mosop (KEN)
|
2:05:37
|
20
|
Eric Loeffler (USA)
|
2:20:56
|
28
|
Brandon Mull (USA)
|
2:22:34
|
Minneapolis-St. Paul - Oct 2, 2011 |
8
|
PIUS NYANTIKA (KEN)
|
2:15:50
|
14
|
STEPHEN MUTURI (KEN)
|
2:20:16
|
Daegu World Championships - Sep 4, 2011 |
29
|
Yoshinori Oda (JPN)
|
2:18:05
|
31
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:18:30
|
37
|
Mike Sayenko (USA)
|
2:22:49
|
Duluth - Jun 18, 2011 |
19
|
Stephen Muturi (KEN)
|
2:20:01
|
22
|
Matt Dewald (USA)
|
2:22:06
|
San Diego - Jun 5, 2011 |
2
|
Tesfaye Sendeku (ETH)
|
2:12:23
|
5
|
Luke Humphrey (USA)
|
2:14:39
|
London - Apr 17, 2011 |
1
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:04:40
|
New York City - Nov 7, 2010 |
2
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:09:18
|
8
|
DATHAN RITZENHEIN (USA)
|
2:12:33
|
28
|
ERIC LOEFFLER (USA)
|
2:26:47
|
Chicago - Oct 10, 2010 |
10
|
Mike Sayenko (USA)
|
2:14:27
|
11
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:14:55
|
12
|
Luke Humphrey (USA)
|
2:15:49
|
23
|
Brandon Mull (USA)
|
2:21:01
|
Minneapolis-St. Paul - Oct 3, 2010 |
10
|
CRAIG LEON (USA )
|
2:18:29
|
22
|
MATT DEWALD (USA)
|
2:23:59
|
Duluth - Jun 19, 2010 |
14
|
Stephen Muturi (KEN)
|
2:24:13
|
16
|
Tesfaye Sendeku (ETH)
|
2:25:02
|
London - Apr 25, 2010 |
2
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:06:23
|
7
|
Zersenay Tadese (ERI)
|
2:12:03
|
Duluth - Jun 20, 2009 |
6
|
Stephen Muturi (KEN)
|
2:20:55
|
13
|
Matt Dewald (USA)
|
2:25:20
|
London - Apr 26, 2009 |
4
|
Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
|
2:06:53
|
11
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:10:00
|
Minneapolis-St. Paul - Oct 5, 2008 |
4
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:17:58
|
5
|
Mike Sayenko (USA)
|
2:19:18
|
New York City Trials - Nov 3, 2007 |
2
|
Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)
|
2:11:07
|
12
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:16:28
|
29
|
Mike Sayenko (USA)
|
2:18:35
|
43
|
Luke Humphrey (USA)
|
2:20:34
|
Chicago - Oct 22, 2006 |
15
|
Mike Morgan (USA)
|
2:15:11
|
18
|
Luke Humphrey (USA)
|
2:15:22
|
95
|
Matt Dewald (USA)
|
2:27:00
|
|
|
|