The streets of Chicago played host to over 50,000 runners from across the globe participating in the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. While each had their unique journey across the flat, scenic 26.2-mile course, a few made history with their performances in what turned into a record-breaking day, as reported by NBC Chicago and ABC7 Chicago.
Despite not setting a new course record, Marcel Hug triumphed in the men's wheelchair race with a remarkable time of 01:23:20, becoming the most decorated men's wheelchair competitor in Chicago's history. "It feels incredible. I can't believe it," Hug told NBC Chicago. On the women's side, Susannah Scaroni made an epic comeback following a flat tire in the previous year's event, nearly breaking the women's wheelchair record with her time of 1:38:12.
In the running categories, newcomer Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda nearly shattered the world record with an impressive finish time of 2:02:21, falling just short of the mark set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in 2023. Kiplimo's nearly record-setting pace led him to victory for the second time in his career, as he explained to ABC7 Chicago, "I didn't know that I was inside the world record, but for me, I was just keeping the pace to finish it, as well." Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia notched her first U.S. marathon win with a time of 2:14:56, marking this victory as her personal best and becoming the first Ethiopian woman to win in Chicago since 2017.
From an American perspective, Conner Mantz etched his name into the record books by surpassing a longstanding American marathon record with his finish time of 2:04:43. "So, having it slowly in my mind and eventually hit the goal, it feels really good," Mantz said, as quoted by ABC7 Chicago. Natosha Rogers led the charge for American women, clocking in a new personal best of 2:23:28 and finishing sixth overall in the women's field.
The event wasn't just about setting records—it also served as a massive boon for the local economy and philanthropy. According to ABC7 Chicago, the marathon assists in raising millions annually for nonprofits and generates nearly $700 million for the host city. With such a vast number of participants and nearly 1.5 million spectators, the event has once again proved to be a unifying spectacle, epitomizing a citywide team effort and showcasing the expansive heart of the running community.
