Blow for Kenya as top marathoner withdraws from Chicago Marathon

Kenya’s ambitions at this year’s Chicago Marathon have been dealt a massive blow, following the withdrawal of one of its leading athletes, Alex Masai.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsMasai, 29, was confirmed by organisers to have dropped out of the Sunday, 11 October race, with no information publicly released on his status.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978907##The Kenyan had been eighth-fastest on the elite list released in July, thanks to his personal best time of 2:04.37, set at the same venue a year earlier on 12 October 2025.Then, Masai finished third, his highest-ever finish in a World Major Marathon.Eliud Kipchoge on why the marathon record will keep fallingThis year, the man ranked 31st in men’s marathon had competed four times, running two half marathons, a full marathon, and a 10km race.Masai opened his season in January with a 13th-place finish at the Houston Half Marathon, before placing 16th at the New York City Half Marathon in March.Two ninth-place finishes followed thereafter at the Boston Marathon in April and the Boston 10K in June.Why New York City Marathon course will change this yearFollowing his exit, race organisers have added two-time Olympic medalist Bashir Abdi to the elite list.The 37-year-old Belgian comes in with a personal best of 2:03:36, set at the Rotterdam Marathon in October 2021.Meanwhile, five other athletes have also withdrawn from the race, including the American trio of Zach Panning, Jacob Thomson and Felicia Pasadyn.John Korir's punishing training regimen in bid to make history at Valencia MarathonKenya’s interest in the event will be led by former London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto, who will be joined by compatriots Daniel Mateiko and debutant Brian Kibor.On top of the field will be Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, who carries the fastest time of 2:00.28 that he set at the London Marathon earlier this year.