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The Chicago Marathon, one of the six World Marathon Majors,[1] has been contested by men and women annually since 1977.[2] Since 1983, it has been held annually in October.[2] The United States had been represented by the most Chicago Marathon winners (nine men and twelve women).[3][4] After a seventh consecutive win by a Kenyan man in 2009, Kenyan men have won more times (ten) than men representing any other country.[3][4] The United Kingdom is in third place in total victories (eight), victories by men (five) and victories by women (three).[3][4] All four of Brazil's victors have been men,[3] and all three of Portugal's winners have been women.[4]
History
The first six pairs of races were swept by the United States.[5] Runners representing the United Kingdom won both races in 1996 (Paul Evans and Marian Sutton).[6] Kenya has been victorious in both races twice (1998 and 2001) and is the most recent country to do so, with representatives Ben Kimondiu and Catherine Ndereba.[5]Deena Kastor, the 2005 female winner, is the last victor from the host nation. Although four-time winner Khalid Khannouchi represented the United States during his 2000 and 2002 victories after becoming an American citizen,[7] the last American-born male winner prior to 2017 was Greg Meyer.[3][4] Galen Rupp became the first American-born male to win the race in 35 years with his 2017 victory.[8] 1979 winner Laura Michalek of the United States was just 15 years old.[2]
Khannouchi's four victories is the most by any contestant. There have been several two-time winners including Khannouchi, five men and six women. Four of the five male two-time winners have been consecutive winners (most recently Evans Rutto in 2002 and 2003), and six of the seven two-time female victors have been consecutive (most recently Berhane Adere in 2006 and 2007). No one other than Khannouchi has won three races and no one has won three consecutively.[2]
The world record for the marathon had been set six times: three male and three female world records. The United Kingdom has had both a male and a female fastest marathon world record in Chicago. The women's world record was once set by Paula Radcliffe, who succeeded Catherine Ndereba as a world record holder in 2002.[2] The record has been set in 2019 by Brigid Kosgei. Khannouchi set the last male fastest marathon world record in the Chicago Marathon in 1999.[2] After Ndereba set the record in 2001, both the men's and women's current fastest marathon world records had been set in the Chicago Marathon.[9][10]
^ abThe event was contested as a half marathon.[11]
^ abcLiliya Shobukhova finished first in 2009, 2010 and 2011 but was subsequently disqualified and records erased because of a positive drug test. Her penalty was announced in 2014.[12]
^Rita Jeptoo tested positive in an out-of-competition drug test for EPO on September 25, 2014. The drug test was confirmed in December 20, 2014, and her two-year suspension was made retroactive to the date of the positive test, which was before the Chicago Marathon, on October 12, 2014 when she had originally finished first in 2:24:35.[13]