Champions Cherono, Kosgei out as Chumba, Kiplagat join Chicago race

Defending champions Lawrence Cherono and world record holder Brigid Kosgei will miss the 2021 Chicago Marathon after the organisers overhauled the start list for Sunday's race.

The Kenyan duo are among 14 elite athletes axed from the race which returns after a one-year absence occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.

Even though the reason to axe Cherono — who finished fourth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games in August — remains unknown, it is believed Kosgei was not going to make it after just a week's rest following a fourth-place finish at last Sunday's London Marathon. 

The changes also saw 17 athletes added while the prize money was slashed by half.

With the exit of Cherono, former Tokyo Marathon champion Dickson Chumba remains the favourite among the Kenyans, despite being his debut on American soil.

Chumba (2:04:32) will be joined by Reuben Kipyego (2:03.55), who finished second at the Milano Marathon in April, behind champion Titus Ekiru.

Other top runners are Eric Kiptanui (2:05:47), Japan’s Kengo Suzuki (2:04.56) and Ethiopia’s Chalu Deso (2:04.53).

Those dropped include Ethiopian Getaneh Molla (2:03.34), Bahraini Hassan El Abbassi (2:04.43), Kenya’s Joel Kimurer (2:05.19), Laban Korir (2:05.54) — who is headed for Amsterdam Marathon and Japan’s Masato Kikuchi (2:07.20).

In women, Kenya’s Vivian Kiplagat (2:21:11) will join race favourite, compatriot Ruth Chepngetich (2:17:08) with Ethiopia’s Meseret Belete (2:24.54) and Americans Carrie Dimoff (2:31.12) and Maegan Krifchin (2:33.14) also joining the fray.

Those erased from the women's list include Kosgei Mexican Vianney De La Rosa (2:20.04) and Britain’s Rosie Edwards (2:31.56).

Under the new prize money structure, the winner will pocket USD 55,000, (Sh6m) down from USD 100,000 (Sh11m) in 2019.

Elite men

1. Reuben Kipyego (KEN) 2:03:55
2. Seifu Tura (ETH) 2:04:29
3. Dickson Chumba (KEN) 2:04:32
4. Kengo Suzuki (JPN) 2:04:56
5. Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:18
6. Eric Kiptanui (KEN) 2:05:47
7. Chalu Deso (ETH) 2:04:53
8. Galen Rupp (USA) 2:06:07
9. Fikre Bekele (ETH) 2:06:27
10. Abdi Ibrahim Abdo (BRN) 2:08:32
11. Ian Butler (USA) 2:09:45
12. Ivan Gonzalez (COL) 2:11:07
13. Emmanuel Roudolff-Levisse (FRA) 2:11:20
14. Colin Mickow (USA) 2:11:22
15. Wilkerson Given (USA) 2:11:44
16. Wily Canchanya (PER) 2:12:33
17. Tyler Jermann (USA) 2:12:40
18. Chris Derrick (USA) 2:12:50
19. Josh Izewski (USA) 2:13:15
20. Mike Sayenko (USA) 2:13:34
21. Nico Montanez (USA) 2:14:07
22. John Tello (PER) 2:14:19
23. Alan Peterson (USA) 2:14:45
24. Dan Kremske (USA) 2:14:53
25. Turner Wiley (USA) 2:17:00
26. Brett Lustgarten (USA) 2:17:18
27. Kurt Roeser (USA) 2:17:59
28. Oscar Medina (USA) 2:18:45
29. Reed Fischer (USA) 2:24:48
30. Clayton Young (USA) 2:29:46
31. Abdisamed Abdi (USA) Debut
32. Ben Kendell (USA) Debut
33. Ian La Mere (USA) Debut
34. Zach Panning (USA) Debut
35. Gonzalo Parra (MEX) Debut
36. Jacob Thomson (USA) Debut

Elite Women

1. Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2:17:08
2. Sara Hall (USA) 2:20:32
3. Vivian Kiplagat (KEN) 2:21:11
4. Keira D’Amato (USA) 2:22:56
5. Meseret Belete (ETH) 2:24:54
6. Emma Bates (USA) 2:25:27
7. Diane Nukuri (USA) 2:27:50
8. Lindsay Flanagan (USA) 2:28:08
9. Bria Wetsch (USA) 2:29:50
10. Michele Lee (USA) 2:30:31
11. Alia Gray (USA) 2:30:41
12. Carrie Dimof (USA) 2:30:54
13. Daiana Ocampo (ARG) 2:31:33
14. Maegan Krifchin (USA) 2:32:47
15. Tristin Van Ord (USA)
16. Whitney Macon (USA) 2:33:21
17. Jane Bareikis (USA) 2:33:54
18. Polina Hodnette (USA) 2:35:41
19. Kate Bazeley (CAN) 2:36:35
20. Chirine Njeim (LBN) 2:36:40
21. Georgia Porter (USA) 2:36:52
22. Anne-Marie Blaney (USA) Debut
23. Megan O’Neil (USA) Debut
24. Sarah Pagano (USA)
25. Olivia Pratt (USA) Debut
26. Carrie Verdon (USA) Debut
27. Jessica Watychowicz (USA) Debut