Chicago 2019: the men’s marathon of the year
A closer look at the elite fields for the 2019 Chicago Marathon
2019 has been an exciting year for the marathon. The 2019 Boston Marathon saw the American men’s sub-2:10 curse broken (before Jared Ward and Scott Fauble ran 2:09), Berlin two weeks ago saw the second and third-fastest marathons ever run, and now Chicago has arguably the deepest men’s marathon lineup of the year.
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With one of North America’s largest marathons only days away, it’s time to take a close look at the elite line up. Here are the Canadian Running Chicago Marathon predictions for the 2019 event.
Men’s field
Lawrence Cherono KEN 2:04:06–Cherono is the defending Boston Champion who’s since clocked a 1:00:46 half-marathon. While he doesn’t have the strongest personal best to his name, he’s got a track record of showing up on race day.
Dickson Chumba KEN 2:04:32–Chumba has one of the oldest personal bests of the line up. The Kenyan ran his 2:04 back in 2014 in Chicago. His most recent result is from the 2019 Tokyo Marathon, where he placed third.
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Mo Farah GRB 2:05:11–Sir Mo is certainly looking for a personal best in Chicago. After teasing that he might double Chicago and the World Championships, he was not on the Doha start list, and chose to focus his efforts on the road. Farah will be hunting to enter into sub-2:05 territory and hopfeully break his own European record, which he set last year in Chicago.
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Galen Rupp USA 2:06:07–Rupp is the second-fastest American marathoner who’s looking to become the best. All eyes will be on Rupp for several reasons on Sunday: his American record attempt and also his coach’s recent ban. Alberto Salazar, who coached Rupp, was banned by the US Anti-Doping Agency for four years following a years-long investigation and secret arbitration case. The details appear in a BBC report by journalist Mark Daly and a statement by USADA outlining the specific charges, which include trafficking in testosterone (a banned substance), illegal methods and evidence-tampering at the NOP’s Beaverton, Oregon headquarters.
RELATED: Alberto Salazar gets four-year ban for doping violations
Women’s field
Brigid Kosgei KEN 2:18:20–Kosgei is the defending champion and has been unbeatable in 2019. She’s a strong contender for the win.
Jordan Hasay USA 2:20:57–Hasay is in a similar position to Rupp. The American, poised to overtake Deena Kastor’s American record (2:19:36), was also coached by Salazar and is an NOP athlete. Hasay is the second-fastest American female marathoner in history. Hasay has raced a lot in 2019, most recently clocking a 1:12 half-marathon at the Rock n Roll Philadelphia race weekend.
Betsy Saina KEN 2:22:56–Saina’s personal best is from the 2018 Paris marathon. While she raced a slightly disappointing 2019 Boston Marathon, she ran a great half in February, clocking 1:07:49.
Lisa Weightman AUS 2:25:15–Weightman is the fourth-fastest Australian woman of all time with the fastest debut in the country’s history. She’s a three-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games medallist.
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Laura Thweatt USA 2:25:38–Thewatt’s personal best is from April 2017, where she placed sixth at the London Marathon. She now trains with Joe Bosshard, husband and coach of world championship silver medallist Emma Coburn.
Stephanie Bruce USA 2:29:20–Bruce’s personal best is from 2018 and she’s done a lot of racing in 2019. This is a runner who’s poised for a big breakthrough this weekend.
Natasha LaBeaud CAN 2:35:33–Labeaud was born in Canada but lives with her husband, who’s American, in San Diego. “The big goal for the race is to be top 10. I’ve also had the 2:29 Olympic standard written down as a time goal. I’ve had my eyes on the Olympic rings since I was young and my sights are still set there. There are ups and downs and the Olympics is a big goal, but it’s certainly on my radar heading into Chicago.”
Emily Setlack CAN 2:35:47 – Setlack ran her personal best earlier this year at the 2019 Rotterdam Marathon. The runner has had a great 2019, setting personal bests at the 10,000m, half-marathon and marathon.
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