Berhane Adere hopes to repeat as champion at Sunday’s Chicago Marathon. © www.photorun.net

Even with such sizable fields, Chicago is perhaps best known for its history of blazing times, including four world records, starting with Welshman Steve Jones, who triumphed in 1984 in 2:08:05. Khalid Khannouchi, then a Moroccan citizen, ran 2:05:42 in 1999. In 2001, Catherine Ndereba became the first women to break 2:19 with her 2:18:47 hours. Paula Radcliffe improved this world record by running 2:17:18 one year later.

Due to the expected warm weather conditions, with temperatures as high as 80 degrees forecast for Sunday, there probably won’t be more records in Chicago this year. Nonetheless, it should be an extraordinary race. In the men’s field, defending champion Robert Cheruiyot (Kenya) is yet again the favorite. He is also nearly certain to win the inaugural series of the World Marathon Majors and the attendant prize of $500,000; a top-5 finish on Sunday would guarantee his lead.

His strongest opponents are Felix Limo (Kenya/2:06:14), the defending London champion who has also won Chicago and Berlin; two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib (Morroco/2:07:02); Daniel Njenga (Kenya/2:06:16), twice at Chicago three times; and Benjamin Maiyo (Kenya/2:07:09), who has been twice at Chicago and Boston. Maiyo is part of a strong KIMbia contingent entered. He’ll be joined by fellow Kenyans Christopher Cheboiboch, who has been second at Boston and New York; James Koskei, who was fourth at Boston in April; and most intriguing, two-time Chicago champion Evans Rutto, who has returned to top form after years lost to injury. His 2:05:50 victory in 2003 remains the world debut record. KIMbia’s John Yuda and Charles Munyeki will be pacing the group through at least the half marathon.

“It is a great honor to have both defending champions back,“ said race director Carey Pinkowski. By that he means that Ethiopian Berhane Adere will also run on Sunday. Last year she won with a new national record of 2:20:42. Her strongest competition will probably come from Aussie Benita Johnson (2:22:36) and Romanian Nuta Olaru (2:24:33). KIMbia’s Kathy Butler hopes to improve her personal best of 2:28:29, while 2004 U.S. Olympian Kate O’Neil wants to break 2:30 in her debut.

Elite runners at the LaSalle Bank Chicago-Marathon

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