- Kenyans failed to win both the men’s and women’s races at the 2025 Chicago Marathon on Sunday afternoon
- Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda ran the show in the men’s race before Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa won the women’s race
- Despite failing to win, the Kenyan athletes still walked away with handsome cash prizes for their brilliant efforts
Jacob Kiplimo made history on October 12 when he became the first Ugandan to ever win the Chicago Marathon.
Source: Getty Images
Kiplimo executed a perfect race that saw him shake off his main competitor, John Korir, just before the 30K mark.
Korir, who was the reigning champion from last year, eventually dropped out of the race with Kenyans Amos Kipruto and Alex Maasai coming in for second and third, respectively.
It was only Kiplimo’s second marathon major after finishing second in London earlier this year. For Kipruto, it was yet another podium finish in a major marathon after previous successes in London 2022, where he won gold, Berlin and Tokyo.
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Chicago Marathon 2025 prize money
For his heroics, Kiplimo walked away with a tidy sum of 100,000 USD (KSh 12.8 million). Kipruto won 75,000 USD (KSh 9.6 million) for finishing second, while Masai got 50,000 USD (KSh 6.4 million) for his third-place finish.
“My family be blessed. Thanks to the Chicago Marathon for the invite, special thanks to @demadonnathletics, @2runningclub, physiotherapy doctors and all staff, asanteni sana. @adidasrunning asanteni sana for always being there, my training mates kongoi sana, @maurten_official asante for the unique role you’re playing every day. And to all my fans, asanteni sana. Ni God tu!” said Kipruto on Instagram
The prize money was similar for the women’s field, where Ethiopians Hawi Feysa and Megertu Alemu led a 1-2 finish. Magdalena Shauri of Tanzania was third while the best-placed Kenyan, Loice Chemnung, crossed the line in fourth.
Chemnung walked away with 30,000 USD (KSh 3.8 million) despite not getting on the podium.
What next after Chicago Marathon?
The Chicago Marathon was the sixth marathon major of the year after past races in Tokyo, Boston, London, Sydney and Berlin.
Up next on the roster will be the New York Marathon on November 2, which will be headlined by Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan.
“They say it’s the biggest race in the world. I love marathons because anything can happen, especially in New York. I am super excited for it,” said Hassan via Olympics.com.
Both Kipchoge and Hassan have never run in New York before, with the former aiming to complete all the marathon majors.
Kipchoge blasts Ruth Chepng’etich
Speaking ahead of the race, Kipchoge called out Ruth Chepng’etich after the women’s world record holder was suspended for doping.
Chepng’etich, who set the world record last year in Chicago, was found with banned substances in her sample.
Her world record will remain standing, though, as World Athletics had already ratified it.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
