Geoffrey Kamworor during his victory at the Rotterdam Marathon/ HANDOUTThree-time world Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor is hoping to summon the spirit of his 2019 New York Marathon triumph as he hunts for only his third Abbott World Marathon Majors victory in the Chicago Marathon on October 12.
Despite his glittering resume on the roads and cross-country, Kamworor has only two marathon major titles to his name, both secured in New York.
In 2017, he produced a tactical masterclass to cut the tape in 2:10:53, outkicking compatriot Wilson Kipsang (2:10:56) and Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa (2:11:32). He repeated the feat in 2019, storming to victory in 2:08:13 ahead of Albert Korir (2:08:36) and Ethiopia’s Girma Bekele (2:08:38).
The 32-year-old says he still dreams of scaling the podium again at one of the majors. “I still have big dreams of winning a major marathon,” Kamworor declared.
Chicago will be uncharted territory for him, but the flat, fast course offers an ideal platform for him to test his speed against the best in the world. It was on the Chicago course in 2023 that the late Kelvin Kiptum shattered the world record, clocking a 2:00:35 to become the first man to dip under 2:01.
Kamworor enters with a personal best of 2:04:23, set during his runner-up finish at the 2023 London Marathon behind Kiptum (2:01:25). Kamworor says his New York triumphs laid the foundation for his Marathon career. "Winning New York, a World Major Marathon, played a big role in my career. "Finishing on the podium as a winner and being awarded a medal was a very joyous moment," he told NN running."
Despite his two victories in New York, Kamworor’s career is also laced with podium finishes across the Abbott majors. His first came in Berlin in 2012, where he ran 2:06:12 to place third behind compatriots Geoffrey Mutai (2:04:15) and Dennis Kimetto (2:04:16).
He repeated the same third-place finish in Berlin the following year, clocking 2:06:26 behind Wilson Kipsang (2:03:23) and Eliud Kipchoge (2:04:05).
In 2015, he stepped up to second in New York, running 2:10:48 behind Stanley Biwott (2:10:34). Three years later, he narrowly missed back-to-back titles in New York (after his 2017 triumph), settling for third in 2:06:26 behind Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa (2:05:59) and Shura Kitata (2:06:01).
His most recent Abbott major podium came in London in 2023, where he finished second in 2:04:23 behind Kiptum (2:01:25). Kamworor, however, walks into the Chicago contest off the back of a strong 2025 campaign. He opened his season with a second-place finish at the Barcelona Half Marathon in February, clocking 58:44.
In April, he claimed the Rotterdam Marathon crown in 2:04:33, defeating Ethiopia’s Chala Regasa (2:05:06) and Chimdessa Debele (2:05:26). His most recent outing was in August, when he won the Condor Executive Antrim Coast Half-Marathon in 59:51.
However, his quest for victory in Chicago faces a formidable challenge. Standing in his way is defending champion John Korir, who stormed to last year’s crown in 2:02:44. Also on the start list are Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, Olympic bronze medallist Bashir Abdi of Belgium and American Galen Rupp.
