Chicago Marathon: Kipruto finally wins as Kiplimo misses podium

Amos Kipruto, right, at the World Championships in Doha on 5 October 2019. File photo: Filip Bossuyt, CC BY 2.0.

Amos Kipruto has completed his climb to the top step of the podium in Chicago. The Kenyan won on Sunday 11 October in 2 h 01 min 09 s, ahead of Ethiopians Tadese Bikila (2 h 02 min 56 s) and Milkesa Mengesha (2 h 03 min 46 s). Jacob Kiplimo finished fourth in 2 h 04 min 18 s. The times posted by the organisers remained provisional at the time of our check.

Kiplimo attacks, Kipruto takes control

Six men reached the half-marathon mark together in 1 h 00 min 21 s. The Ugandan then pushed on. Kipruto responded, then took the lead: by 35 kilometres, the Kenyan was twelve seconds clear, according to World Athletics' race report. The outcome was therefore settled after the halfway point, not in a sprint finish.

Kipruto's resilience also shows in his splits. Based on the intermediate times published by the organisers, his second half-marathon works out at 1 h 00 min 48 s, just 27 seconds slower than his first. Kiplimo's comes to 1 h 03 min 57 s. That comparison measures the difference in their consistency; on its own, it does not allow the Ugandan's fade to be attributed to a physical problem.

A win that extends a steady rise

For Kipruto, this victory follows a third place in Chicago in 2024 and a second in 2025. It adds to his win in London in 2022. The final gap to Bikila, 1 min 47 s, shows the size of his margin over his closest pursuer.

Kipruto was able to go with Kiplimo's surge, then hold his pace. The Ugandan, who had driven the lead pack after the half-marathon, ultimately dropped off the podium.