Tura, Chepngetich triumph
Solid day for Americans: Rupp second; Bates and Hall hit podium
Seifu Tura of Ethiopia and Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya were victorious Sunday in the return of the Chicago Marathon, which was scrapped last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Tura, who was sixth in 2019, finished in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 12 seconds. American Galen Rupp was second in 2:06:35, followed by Kenya’s Eric Kiptanui in 2:06:51.
“I was determined to fight to the very end,” Tura said. “I was extremely concerned when they said that it was going to be very hot because I had not prepared for warm weather. There was a breeze, and the first half was not too fast, so that helped me.”
Rupp, 35, raced in Chicago after finishing eighth in the marathon nine weeks ago in the Tokyo Olympics.
“[Tura] went for broke and ran an unbelievable last three or four K to bring it home,” Rupp said. “I kept trying to tell myself, ‘Just keep the faith, you never know what could happen.’ I just didn’t have enough to catch up.”
Chepngetich, the 2019 women’s World Marathon champion, went out on a world-record pace and built a huge lead but slowed in the second half before winning in 2:22:31. Americans Emma Bates (2:24:20) and Sara Hall (2:27:19) were second and third. Six U.S. women finished among the top 10.
Bates’ time was a personal best by more than a minute, and she ran a negative split in the second half of the marathon.
“Going into this race, I knew that with the conditions, I needed to go out conservatively,” Bates said. “I surely [picked up the pace] bit by bit.”
Around 35,000 runners competed in the 26.2-mile event.