Kenyan distance star Amos Kipruto was in imperious form on Sunday, storming to victory at the Chicago Marathon in a new lifetime best.
Kipruto, who trains alongside world record holder Sabastian Sawe, delivered a commanding performance to breast the tape in a lifetime best of 2:01:09, coming within striking distance of the late Kelvin Kiptum’s course record of 2:00:35.
Ethiopia’s Tadese Bikila followed in second place in 2:02:56, while his compatriot Milkesa Mengesha completed the podium in 2:03:46.
Defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, meanwhile, missed out on a podium finish, settling for fourth place in 2:04:18.
Kipruto’s triumph on Sunday meant he was third time lucky on the Chicago course, finally converting his previous podium finishes in 2024 and 2025 into a memorable victory.
He made his Chicago debut in 2024, finishing third in 2:04:50 behind compatriot John Korir, who won the race in 2:02:44, and Ethiopia’s Mohamed Esa, who clocked 2:04:39 for second place.
Kipruto returned to Chicago in 2025 determined to go one better but fell short again, this time finishing runner-up in 2:03:54 behind Kiplimo, who claimed the title in 2:02:23. Kenya’s Alex Masai completed the podium in 2:04:37.
Kipruto said he had approached this year’s race with a win-or-nothing mentality after two consecutive years of near misses on the Chicago streets.
“I thank the Chicago fraternity for giving me the opportunity to come back here and run.”
”The race today was good. I told myself I had to run well because I had been here twice before, finishing third in 2024 and second in 2025,” Kipruto said after the race.
“For me, this race was a win or nothing.”
The Kenyan star also credited his thorough preparations in the build-up to the race, saying he had done enough work to put himself in contention for victory.
“My preparations for the Chicago Marathon were very good. I had prepared well,” he said.
Kipruto had lined up in Chicago on the back of a productive start to his 2026 campaign.
On April 26, he featured at the London Marathon where he narrowly missed the podium in London, finishing fourth in 2:01:39 in a race that will be remembered for Sawe’s historic exploits.
Kipruto’s training partner stole the headlines by shattering the men’s marathon world record, becoming the first man in history to break the two-hour barrier in an officially recognised marathon with a sensational 1:59:30.
Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha also dipped under the previous world record to finish second in 1:59:41, while Kiplimo completed the podium in 2:00:28.
Following his exploits on the roads of London, Kipruto briefly switched his focus to the track, lining up in the men’s 5,000m at the National Police Service (NPS) Track and Field Championships on May 20, where he finished fourth in 14:02.12.
Andrew Alamisi won the race in 13:49.98, holding off Stephen Kipkech, who clocked 13:55.22, and Naibei Mayebei, who finished third in 13:57.01.
Meanwhile, in the women’s race, two-time Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi fell short of the title in her maiden appearance in Chicago, settling for second place.
Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa successfully defended her title from 2025, crossing the finish line in 2:13:33, while Lokedi followed in 2:14:07. Former world record holder Brigid Kosgei completed the podium in 2:14:55.