Chicago Marathon announces strong elite field

Kenya’s Sammy Kitwara is due for a win at the Chicago Marathon. Having finished fourth in 2012, third in 2013 and second last year, the Kenyan returns for his fourth time to the city as the top seed on the start list for this fall’s race.

Kitwara’s 2:04:28 personal best from last year’s race is the fastest of the elite field released Thursday. But he’ll be challenged by Dickson Chumba, holding a personal best only a few seconds slower of 2:04:32, and Tsegaye Kebede of Ethiopia. Kebede won in Chicago in 2012 and was a bronze medallist at the 2008 Olympics.

A familiar name to Canadians, Wesley Korir, is also scheduled to race in Chicago. It will be his seventh time contesting the event, his best finish a second in 2011. Korir, a member of parliament in Kenya and 2012 Boston champion, is married to Canadian athlete Tarah Korir (formerly Tarah McKay).

In the women’s race, the most decorated athlete on the start line will be Kenya’s Florence Kiplagat. She’s the world record-holder in the half-marathon and has twice won the Berlin Marathon.

Mulu Seboka of Ethiopia will be one the Kiplagat’s main opponents. She hold a 2:21:56 personal best from January’s Dubai Marathon. In the past ten years, Seboka has run over 35 marathons, a huge number for an elite athlete.

Seboka’s compatriot, Amane Gobena, will arrive in Chicago with a 2:23:30 personal best from her second-place performance in Paris earlier this year.

Kayoko Fukushi looks to be the only non-East African, podium-calibre athlete in either race. The Japanese runner, in 2011, finished second in Chicago and holds a 2:24:21 best time.

The 2015 Chicago Marathon will be held on Oct. 11, scheduled for a 7:30 a.m. start.