Americans Hasay And Rupp Will Race Chicago Marathon
The elite field was just announced and includes 18 Americans, including legend Joan Benoit Samuelson who will try for an age-group record.
Yesterday, the elite field for the 40th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon—taking place on Oct. 8—was announced and two top Americans are set to lead the pack.
Two-time Olympic medalist Galen Rupp and American marathon debut record holder Jordan Hasay will compete against a deep field. On the men’s side, this includes NCAA champion and record holder Sam Chelanga, Luke Puskedra, Jeffrey Eggleston, Aaron Braun, Diego Estrada, Andrew Bumbalough, and debut marathoners Chris Derrick and rising star Noah Droddy. The women’s race will see Becky Wade, Sarah Crouch, Alia Gray, Danna Herrick, Dot McMahan, Kristen Heckert and Michelle Lilienthal toe the line.
Rounding out the elite field is 1984 Olympic gold medalist and 1985 Chicago Marathon champion Joan Benoit Samuelson, who will toe the line in an attempt to set an age-group world record.
“Storytelling is important to me and it’s how I motivate myself,” Samuelson said in a press release. “My race decisions often reflect my narrative. Once I turned 60 I knew that the Oct. 8 Chicago race would represent the next chapter in my career.”
This World Marathon Major race hosts more than 40,000 runners from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, while an estimated 1.7 million spectators line the streets of the Windy City.