Kenyans were the men’s and women’s winners Sunday morning, October 13 in a super-fast Bank of America Chicago Marathon in which Dennis Kimetto came close to the world marathon record, set only two weeks ago!

Kimetto ran 2:03:45 (countryman Wilson Kipsang set the world record of 2:03:23 in the Berlin Marathon Sunday, Sept. 29); Kimetto’s time broke the previous course record of 2:04:38, set last year.

Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, this year’s Boston Marathon winner, won the women’s race in an impressive 2:19:57.

For Kimetto, the financial reward of winning made all the hard training he’s done worthwhile. In registering one of the finest marathon performances ever, he earned $100,000 for his victory, plus another $75,000 for setting the course record!

Emmanuel Mutai of Kenya ran step for step with Kimetto most of the way and finished only seven seconds behind him in 2:03:52.

Sammy Kitwara finished third in 2:05:16, giving Kenya a clean sweep of the top three places.

First American finisher was Dathan Ritzenhein, who was fifth in 2:09:45. The 5’8”, 120-pound track and marathon star averaged 120-130 miles per week in preparation for Chicago, and prior to the race said he had no intention of going out in 61:45 for the first half of the race as the Kenyans said they planned to do.

In a postrace press conference, the quiet, shy Kimetto said he only started running in 2010. Before that he had concentrated on farming in the Eldoret area of Kenya.  And despite the fact he was so close to the world record in Chicago, he said he didn’t pay any attention to the clock at all during the race, except at the very end when it became clear he had a chance to better the course record.

Following the Chicago Marathon, four Kenyans now rank as the fastest male marathoners in history!  That list now reads: 1) Wilson Kipsang, Kenya – 2:03:23; 2) Patrick Makau, Kenya – 2:03:38; 3) Dennis Kimetto, Kenya – 2:03:45; 4) Emmanuel Mutai, Kenya – 2:03:52. A fifth Kenyan, Geoffrey Mutai (no relation to Emmanuel) ran 2:03:03 in winning the 2011 Boston Marathon, but the Boston course has too much downhill for times run on it to be eligible for world-record consideration. In all, 10 men have run 2:04:27 or better for the marathon. Eight are from Kenya, two from Ethiopia.

In the women’s race in Chicago, Rita Jeptoo, who lost by one second in last year’s Chicago Marathon, made sure the race wasn’t close this time. She won by 53 seconds over her fellow Kenyan, Jemima Jelagat Sumgong, who ran 2:20:48.

Maria Konovolova of Russia finished third in 2:22:46.

First American finisher was Clara Santucci, who was ninth in 2:31:41.

While the Kenyan men have won the Chicago Marathon consistently in recent years, Jeptoo becomes the first Kenyan woman to win the race since the great Catherine N’dereba won in 2001. Her time of 2:19:57 is the fifth fastest ever run in the race, ranking only behind the performances of previous winners Paula Radcliffe of Great Britain, 2:17:18 in 2002, Liliya Shobukova of Russia, 2:18:20 in 2011, and N’dereba’s winning time of 2:18:47 in 2001 -- N'dereba also ran 2:19:26 in 2002 when she finished second to Radcliffe.

The Chicago Marathon, one of the most prestigious running events in the world, had approximately 45,000 participants this year. An estimated 1.7 million spectators watched the race along the relatively flat, fast course that offers competitors spectacular views of the Chicago skyline.

Comments

Kenya runners now have run the four fastest men and six fastest women marathon times of the year. Great race in Chicago...
Bob Anderson 10/14/13 8:43 am