Kenyan athletes endured a rare disappointment at the 2025 Chicago Marathon as Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa stormed to commanding victories in the men’s and women’s races respectively. The outcome marked the end of Kenya’s long-standing dominance in the prestigious event and saw millions slip from the grasp of the country’s top marathoners.
Kiplimo, competing in only his second marathon, delivered a spectacular performance to win the men’s race in a personal best of 2:02:23. The Ugandan finished ahead of Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, who clocked 2:03:52, and Alex Masai, who completed the podium in 2:04:37. The win not only confirmed Kiplimo’s growing stature as one of the world’s top long-distance runners but also earned him the hefty winner’s cheque of $100,000 (Ksh12.9 million).
In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa was unstoppable, crossing the finish line in 2:14:56 to secure her maiden World Marathon Major title. Fellow Ethiopian Megertu Alemu came in second with a time of 2:17:18, while Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri clocked 2:18:03 to claim third place. The best-placed Kenyan woman was Loice Chemnung, who finished fourth in 2:18:23.
For a nation accustomed to sweeping podium finishes in Chicago, this year’s outcome was a setback. Kenya had enjoyed an impressive run in recent editions of the marathon. Amos Kipruto won in 2022, the late Kelvin Kiptum broke the world record in 2023, and John Korir triumphed in 2024. On the women’s side, Brigid Kosgei and Ruth Chepng’etich had dominated between 2018 and 2024, cementing Kenya’s reputation as a marathon powerhouse.
However, the 2025 edition painted a different picture. With both the men’s and women’s titles slipping away, Kenyan athletes missed out on the top prize money. Each winner walked away with $100,000, while second and third places attracted $75,000 (Ksh9.6 million) and $50,000 (Ksh6.4 million) respectively. Chemnung’s fourth-place finish earned her $30,000 (Ksh3.8 million).
The results in Chicago serve as a wake-up call for Kenya’s distance running giants, who now face rising competition from neighbouring countries. With the marathon season entering its final stretch, Kenyan athletes will be eager to bounce back and reclaim their dominance on the global stage.
