Kenyans Chemnung, Kosgei and Lokedi in Chicago Marathon field; Sawe out injured

The 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon is on Sunday 11 October 2026 in Grant Park, and the professional runners start at 7:30 a.m. local time, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on 6 October. Wheelchair and handcycle races go off first, from 7:20 a.m. More than 55,000 runners are expected, according to the race's 23 July announcement of its elite fields, issued through the Bank of America newsroom. Chicago is one of the Abbott World Marathon Majors.

The women's professional field includes Kenyans Brigid Kosgei, Sharon Lokedi and Loice Chemnung, NBC Chicago reported on 23 July. Kenyans Amos Kipruto, Daniel Mateiko and Alex Masai are among the leading entries in the men's field.

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe will not run because of injury, the Sun-Times reported on 6 October. This spring in London he ran 1:59:30, the sport's first official sub-two-hour marathon.

Chemnung, 29, made her marathon debut in Chicago in October 2025, finishing fourth in 2:18:24, The Star reported on 8 October. World Athletics lists that as her personal best, set on 12 October 2025, and gives her date of birth as 22 February 1997.

On 20 April 2026 she was second at the Boston Marathon in 2:19:35, behind Lokedi, who won in 2:18:51, The Boston Globe reported that day. The Star said on 8 October that she also set a Barcelona Half Marathon course record of 1:04:01 this year and won the 10,000 metres title at the Athletics Kenya National Championships in 31:46.90.

Kosgei is a former world record holder and a two-time Chicago champion. Her best marathon time, 2:14:04, came when she won in Chicago in 2019, the Sun-Times reported on 6 October. The race announcement said she returns for the first time since 2019 after winning this year's Tokyo Marathon.

Lokedi will make her Chicago debut. The announcement lists her personal best as 2:17:22 and credits her with the 2022 New York City Marathon and the 2025 and 2026 Boston Marathons.

Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa returns to defend the women's title she won in 2025 by more than two minutes, the announcement said.

In the men's race, Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo returns to defend the title he won last year in 2:02:23. He has since run 2:00:28 in London, according to the race announcement. NBC Chicago reported on 23 July that Kipruto was runner-up in Chicago in 2025 and Masai third.