FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abel Kirui and Florence Kiplagat Crowned Champions at the
2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Tatyana McFadden captures her seventh win and Marcel Hug takes the title in
a photo finishh
CHICAGO - In today's Bank of America Chicago Marathon, 40,400 runners
crossed the finish line in Chicago's "front yard," Grant Park, as ideal
weather conditions greeted them as well as thousands of volunteers and more
than 1.7 million spectators. For the second consecutive year, race
organizers did not use pacesetters, resulting in championship style racing
and head-to-head competition. The men's race saw a new champion crowned as
2012 Olympic marathon silver medalist Abel Kirui (KEN) held off defending
champion Dickson Chumba (KEN) down the homestretch, 2:11:23 to 2:11:26,
respectively. Gideon Kipketer (KEN) arrived a distant third in 2:12:20.
In stark contrast to the men's race, Florence Kiplagat (KEN) led a pack of
women through the first 19 miles on sub 2:22 pace and then threw down a
5:10 mile to break away from the pack and defend her title. Kiplagat ran
the fifth fastest time in the world this year and the 13th fastest time in
Bank of America Chicago Marathon history, 2:21:32. Double IAAF World
Championships Marathon winner Edna Kiplagat (KEN) was the runner up in
2:23:28, and Valentine Kipketer (KEN) claimed the final spot on the podium
in 2:23:41.
In the women's wheelchair competition, Tatyana McFadden (Clarksville, MD.)
defended her title, beating Switzerland's Manuela Schär by one second at
the line in 1:42:28, taking home her sixth straight victory and her seventh
win at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, making her the most decorated
champion in race history. The men's competition featured another thrilling
finish with the top nine men finishing within 16 seconds of each other.
Abbott World Marathon Majors Series X leader Marcel Hug (SUI) edged out
Kurt Fearnley (AUS) in a photo finish in 1:32:57, earning his first career
Chicago Marathon victory. 2014 champion Joshua George (Champaign, Ill.) was
a close third in 1:32:59.
The Men's Race
The men's race moved out slowly on 2:19 pace as a large pack engaged in a
cat and mouse game of erratic running and sudden surges followed by
pedestrian pacing. Throughout the day, the pace ranged from 4:33 per mile
to 5:24 per mile. After running in a tight cluster for six miles, Ethiopian
Abayneh Ayele made a break and Gideon Kipketer followed. Ayele zig-zagged
across the road at mile 8 to try to shake his competitor, but eventually
slipped back into the pack.
Paul Lonyangata (KEN) was the next runner to move out in front, but the
chase pack quickly reeled him in, and a pair of Japanese runners, Takuya
Fukatsu and Koji Gokaya, took a group of 14 men through one of the slowest
half marathon splits in the last two decades, 1:06:50. As temperatures
lingered in the mid-50s, Kipketer stepped on the gas, making it a
six-person race by Mile 15, and a four person race with 10K to go:
Kipketer, Chumba, Lonyangata and Kirui.
Lonyangata was the first to drop back shortly after 35K, and Kipketer was
the next to go. With two and a half miles remaining, the race transitioned
into a heated duel between an Olympic medalist, Kirui, and the defending
champion, Chumba. Kirui and Chumba jockeyed back and forth, dropping the
pace considerably, before Kirui put in a final attack that Chumba could not
match. Kirui ran the slowest time, 2:11:23, since 1993 in a race that Bank
of America Chicago Marathon Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski called
"spirited," "entertaining" and "great theater."
American Diego Estrada (Flagstaff, Ariz.) was the first American across the
line in eighth place, despite rolling his ankle in a fall at the 10K mark.
Estrada clocked 2:13:56. American Elkanah Kibet (Fayetteville, NC) rounded
out the top 10 in 2:16:37. Kibet finished seventh in 2015.
The Women's Race
Unlike the men's race, the women's race emerged as a replay of 2015 with an
aggressive start. Defending champion Florence Kiplagat was not content with
the fartlek-like tactics of the men's race, opting instead for a swift
speed-show through Chicago’s 29 neighborhoods.
Kiplagat started with a pack of seven women through 15K before 2010 and
2012 champion, Atsede Baysa (ETH) became the first casualty of the fast
pace and fell off the back of the pack. Kiplagat led the pack through the
half in 1:10:29. The same group of six remained together through 30K until
AWMM newcomer Visiline Jepkesho (KEN) hit the brakes and eventually dropped
out after 35K.
The women picked up the pace from miles 17-19, running faster than the
men’s lead pack for the same stretch, and with 10K remaining, Kiplagat
dropped the hammer and never looked back. After controlling the tempo, she
sealed her second Chicago victory with a 5:10 mile, effortlessly floating
over the infamous 20-mile wall in Pilsen.
Kiplagat's winning time, 2:21:32, was two minutes faster than her time last
year. Edna Kiplagat failed to match the blistering pace of her compatriot
over the final 10K, but she hung on to finish second in 2:23:28, and
Valentine Kipketer matched her brother’s finishing place for third in
2:23:41.
A strong trio of American women cracked the top 10 with Serena Burla
(Stafford, VA.) leading the way in seventh in 2:30:40. Sarah Crouch
(Moorehead, KY.), competing in her third Chicago Marathon, finished ninth
in 2:33:48 and Alia Gray (Boulder, CO.) set a personal best for tenth place
in 2:34:00.
The Professional Wheelchair Race
Tatyana McFadden once again rewrote the record books by capturing her
seventh Chicago Marathon victory, marking her 19th Abbott World Marathon
Majors win, and setting herself up for a record fourth straight grand slam
if she wins New York (in 2013, 2014, and 2015 she won four majors in the
same year: Boston, London, Chicago and New York). For the fourth straight
year, Manuela Schär (SUI) finished second to McFadden. Schär remained in
contention until the finish line. Three-time Chicago Marathon winner Amanda
McGrory (Savoy, Ill.) finished third in 1:47:55.
Marcel Hug led the way in the men’s race, finishing ahead of one of the
most competitive fields in history. Nine men made the turn from Roosevelt
Road onto Columbus Drive within seconds of each other. Hug battled
five-time Chicago Marathon winner and defending champion Fearnley to the
tape in a spectacular photo finish. 2014 Chicago Marathon champion Joshua
George finished third in 1:32:59.
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 39th year, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomes thousands
of runners 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 runners. The race’s iconic course takes
runners through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural
tour of Chicago. In 2016, an estimated 1.7 million spectators lined the
streets cheering on 40,400 runners from the start line to the final stretch
down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race’s national and international
draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of dollars for a
variety of charitable causes while generating $277 million in annual
economic impact to its host city. The 2017 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and
finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 8. In
advance of the race, a two-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at
McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday, October 6, and Saturday,
October 7. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go
to chicagomarathon.com.
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