Jacob Kiplimo has put himself into rare territory with the third-fastest marathon in history, and that is the level of performance the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon now has to consider. In a race preview shaped by speed, pressure and race-day conditions, the big question is how that elite mark changes the conversation around the women’s contenders and the likely pace in Chicago.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon presser took place on Friday, October 10, 2026, with Hawi Feysa presented as the defending champion, Brigid Kosgei returning after past Chicago wins and injury problems, and Sharon Lokedi again part of the elite picture after a strong recent season. With weather and an early fast pace expected to matter, the race already has the feel of one where the strongest runners may need to adapt rather than simply impose themselves.
Hawi Feysa brings the defence into focus
Hawi Feysa arrives as the runner to beat in Chicago after winning the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2:14.57. Her own view was simple enough: she is happy with her training and wants to defend her title. That is exactly the sort of confidence a champion needs, but it also places a target on her back in a field with proven major-marathon quality.
Her recent form adds to that case. In 2025 she also won the Frankfurt Marathon in 2:17:25 and finished third in the Tokyo 2025 World Championships Marathon. Those results suggest a runner who is now established at the top level rather than simply a surprise winner. The issue in Chicago, though, is whether she can control a race that may begin quickly and ask plenty of tactical questions later on.
Brigid Kosgei and Sharon Lokedi keep the pressure on
Brigid Kosgei remains one of the most decorated names in the field. She won Chicago in 2018, then returned in 2019 to break the mixed-race women’s world record there with a 2:14:04. She also won London in 2019 and 2020, took silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics held in 2021, and won Tokyo in 2021 and 2022. After injury problems, her return matters in itself.
Federico Rosa put it plainly: “Brigid would not be here unless she was really fit.” That is an important warning to the rest of the field. Even a runner coming back from a disrupted spell does not carry that history without reason, and Chicago has already seen what Kosgei can do when conditions and fitness align.
Sharon Lokedi is another major figure in the discussion. In 2025 she beat Hellen Obiri by 19 seconds at the Boston Marathon, and in 2026 she won over Loice Chemnung and Mary Ngugi Cooper. That combination of strength and finishing ability makes her a serious factor if the race turns into a late duel rather than an all-out front-running test.
Why the early pace could decide everything
Chicago has a reputation for quick times, and the presence of runners capable of handling 35k and beyond at speed means the race could open up early. The challenge for everyone is not just surviving the pace, but making sure the final 12 kilometers do not become a test of who has misjudged the effort most.
That is where Kiplimo’s record-level performance hangs over the whole preview. A third-fastest marathon mark is not just a headline number; it raises the standard of what elite endurance running now looks like. For Chicago, it underlines that this is a race where history can be made, but only if the pace, conditions and execution all line up.
For Hawi Feysa, the task is to defend. For Brigid Kosgei, it is to prove the comeback has real bite. For Sharon Lokedi, it is to turn consistency into another major win. And for the rest of the field, including anyone watching Kiplimo’s benchmark, the message is clear: Chicago will reward the runner who gets the balance right when the race starts to bite.
