John Korir/FILE
Leading the pack is defending champion John Korir, who had earlier told the Star of his intent to attack the world record in Chicago.
"The target my coach and I have set for ourselves in Chicago is to lower my personal best and clock 2:00:30," Korir told the Star.
The late Kelvin Kiptum holds the current world record over 42km, with a time of 2:00:35, set at the Chicago course in 2023.
Korir's current best is 2:02:44, set during his triumph in Chicago during last year's edition.
In that race, he led Ethiopia's Mohamed Esa, who clocked 2:04:39 for second place, with compatriot Amos Kipruto rounding off the podium in 2:04:50.
The 28-year-old heads to the Windy City brimming with confidence after a stellar start to his 2025 campaign.
He opened the season with a commanding win at the Boston Marathon in April, clocking 2:04:45.
He led Tanzania's Alphonce Simbu (2:05:04) and compatriot CyBrian Kotut (2:05:04).
After his Boston heroics, Korir lined up for the Boilermaker 15kmroad race on July 13, claiming victory in 42:44, well ahead of compatriot Hillary Kipkoech (43:08) and Abbabiya Simbassa (43:28).
Two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor also joins the Kenyan arsenal, eyeing his second Marathon victory of the year.
Kamworor claimed the Rotterdam title on April 13, finishing in 2:04:33 ahead of Ethiopians Chala Regasa (2:05:06) and Chimdessa Debele (2:05:26).
Also eyeing another Marathon victory in his 2025 campaign is Amos Kipruto, who won in Hamburg on April 27 in a course record time of 2:03:46.In that race, he led Philemon Kiplimo (2:04:01) and Erick Sang (2:04:30).
Kipruto noted that his training is going well as he focuses on the Chicago Marathon.
"My training is underway and I'm ready to race in the streets of Chicago," Kipruto shared.
Also in the fold is Kotut, eyeing his first Marathon victory of the season after a third-place finish in Boston, as well as Timothy Kiplagat, running his first Marathon of 2025 after a third-place half marathon finish in Meishan (1:01:06) in February.
Adding more Kenyan firepower is World 10,000m silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo, running his third career Marathon after previous appearances in Chicago 2024 (5th - 2:06:04) and Seoul 2025 (10th - 2:10:21), as well as Hamburg Marathon runner-up Kiplimo.
The Kenyans face a daunting task from Belgium's Bashir Abdi, the 2023 Chicago Marathon third-place finisher.
Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo will also be in contention, eyeing victory in only his second full Marathon race after a second-place finish (2:03:37) in April's London Marathon.
The women’s race also promises fireworks with last year’s third-place finisher Irene Cheptai returning to climb higher on the podium.
Cheptai walks into the race off a fourth-place finish from the Boston Marathon in April, where she clocked 2:21:32.
She will be in the company of 2014 World Half Marathon silver medallist Mary Ngugi, as well as Loice Chemnung, who will be making her debut.
The Kenyan trio will face a strong Ethiopian charge led by 2023 London Marathon runner-up Alemu Megertu and 2024 Frankfurt marathon champion Hawi Feysa.
