Chicago Marathon announces elite fields

On top of the previously announced Mo Farah and Galen Rupp, the men’s field for the upcoming Chicago Marathon is looking extremely strong. With seven men who’ve run under the 2:06:00 mark, it’s sure to be a good race.

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Farah hopes to defend his Chicago Marathon title. Farah is one of the most decorated track athletes in history, winning six World Championship gold medals and four Olympic titles on the track. His transition to the marathon has been very impressive. He ran his debut in 2014 in London in 2:08:21, and has improved on that result in both of his subsequent marathons. Chicago 2019 will be his fourth marathon and his second in Chicago (his first being the 2018 event, which he won).

Other notable entries are 2015 champion Dickson Chumba, reigning Boston Champion Lawrence Cherono and Getaneh Molla who ran the fastest marathon debut in history at Dubai this year.

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The women’s elite field will see defending champion Brigid Kosgei attempt a repeat victory and Canadian Natasha Labeaud look to fulfill her Olympic dreams. The last time Labeaud raced in Chicago it was a very hot 2011 day. “That race did not go as well as I would’ve liked. But my coach, husband and I looked at my training plan and decided that Chicago would be ideal for this season. Lots of top people race well on the Chicago course and have really good experiences there.”

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 ten. 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.”

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The complete men’s elite field

Getaneh Molla – 2:03:34
Herpasa Negasa – 2:03:40
Lawrence Cherono – 2:04:06
Dickson Chumba – 2:04:32
Hassan El Abbassi – 2:04:43
Mo Farah – 2:05:11
Kenneth Kipkemoi – 2:05:44
Bedan Karoki – 2:06:48
Minato Oishi – 2:10:39
Shoya Osaki – 2:10:48
Ryoma Takeuchi – 2:11:20
Yuta Takahashi – 2:11:25
Tsubasa Hayakawa – 2:12:10
Joel Tobin-White – Debut
Emmanuel Roudolff-Lévisse – Debut

The complete women’s field

Brigid Kosgei – 2:18:20
Betsy Saina – 2:22:56
Madai Perez – 2:22:59
Lisa Weightman – 2:25:15
Fionnuala McCormack – 2:30:38
Jovana de la Cruz – 2:31:33
Natasha LaBeaud – 2:35:33
Chirine Njeim – 2:39:21
Anke Esser – 2:43:14
Alice Wright – Debut