Sun Oct 12 13:20:00 UTC 2025: **Chicago Marathon Sees Blazing Early Pace, American Records Under Threat**
**CHICAGO, IL** – The 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is underway, with a blistering early pace suggesting records could fall. A star-studded field of international and domestic athletes, including Conner Mantz, Jacob Kiplimo, and Ejgayehu Taye, is battling for podium finishes and personal bests on Chicago’s notoriously flat and fast course.
In the men’s race, a Kenyan pack including John Korir, Timothy Kiplagat, Jacob Kiplimo, Philemon Kiplimo Kimaiyo, and Amos Kipruto shot out to a quick lead, hitting the 5K mark in 13:58 and the 10k mark in 28:25, fueled by a tailwind early on. They surged to 15k in 42:41, 52 seconds ahead of the chasers, showing no signs of slowing down while maintaining a pace set to finish in an incredible 1:59:54. Korir pulled ahead of the pack at the half-marathon mark, hitting 1:00:16, making his bid to take the lead for the first time in the race.
American Conner Mantz, fresh off an impressive 4th place finish at the Boston Marathon, is in the chase pack, currently running around 2:04 pace and attempting to break Khalid Khannouchi’s 23-year-old American record of 2:05:38. Canadian Rory Linkletter is also in the chase pack.
The women’s race sees Ethiopians Hawi Feysa, Bedatu Badane, Megertu Alemu, and Ejgayehu Taye and Tanzanian Magdalena Shauri leading the way, projected to finish near 2:15. Taye, a highly anticipated debut marathoner, has stepped into the chase pack.
Dakotah Popehn, formerly known as Lindwurm, leads the American women.
Meanwhile, in the wheelchair divisions, Marcel Hug of Switzerland has established an early lead in the men’s race, while Susannah Scaroni leads the women’s competition, targeting a world record.
Stay tuned for live updates as the race unfolds. The early pace suggests a thrilling finish with the potential for record-breaking performances in the Windy City.
First Piper 