Hawi Feysa Gejia absolutely crushed the women’s field at the 2026 Chicago Marathon, not only defending her crown but smashing her own previous winning time with a blistering 2:13:33. On the men’s side, Kenya’s Amos Kipruto finally broke through for a massive win, crossing the finish line first after years of coming so close.
Feysa’s Reign Continues, Faster Than Ever
Look, we all knew Hawi Feysa Gejia was good, but this? This was a whole other level of dominance. Her 2:13:33 finish wasn’t just enough to snag her second straight Chicago Marathon title, it was over a minute faster than her victorious 2:14:57 last year! She didn’t just win, she improved. Talk about setting a new bar. Ethiopia’s Feysa didn’t even make it a nail-biter for long, with NBC Chicago reporting she “broke away from the competition” with only minutes left on the clock. You gotta love that confidence. Her post-race quote says it all: “Thank you so much,” she said via her interpreter. “After winning this year, to come back, I just want to thank God. I’m elated to have my second time.” Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi tried to keep pace, finishing second with a respectable 2:14:07, less than a minute behind Feysa. But when someone’s running like Feysa, you’re practically watching history unfold.
Kipruto’s Breakthrough: Third Time’s the Charm
On the men’s side, the story was pure grit and determination, as Kenya’s Amos Kipruto finally got his moment in the sun. After finishing third in 2024 and second in 2025, Kipruto wasn’t going to let this one slip away. He crossed the finish line with an incredible 2:01:09, almost two minutes ahead of Ethiopia’s Tadese Bikila, who clocked in at 2:02:56. This wasn’t a runaway from the start, either. Alex Dvorak of NBC Chicago noted Kipruto was “battling neck and neck with last year’s champion Jacob Kiplimo.” Can you imagine that pressure? But Kipruto dug deep, pulled ahead, and created some impressive separation to secure the win, leaving Kiplimo in fourth. That’s a champion’s mentality right there. “I was here to fight for the podium,” Kipruto said after the finish. “Everything is all about that mindset… I set my mind on it.” When you’ve been so close, you learn how to finish, and Kipruto showed everyone how it’s done.
What’s Next?
Both Feysa and Kipruto just delivered performances that are going to be talked about for a long time. These weren’t just wins; they were statements. Feysa proved she can defend her title AND get faster, which is scary for anyone else on the circuit. Kipruto finally breaking through after multiple near-misses shows the kind of dedication it takes to reach the top. You gotta wonder if these two are just getting started on setting new benchmarks in the marathon world.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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