Kenyan runner Amos Kipruto is the new Bank of America Chicago Marathon champion, following his second major win on Sunday, 11 October.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsKipruto, 34, dislodged defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda with over 10 kilometers to go, to streak away to victory in a personal best time of 2:01.09.The 2022 London Marathon champion, in his third visit to the Windy City, had looked poised for a big battle with Kiplimo shortly after the 30 kilometer mark, but for the Kenyan to unleash a big kick that the fastest man on the field could not react to.UoN’s The Hotrods quartet land fully paid South Africa trip after Open Lanes Varsity Invitational victoryKipruto would go ahead to finish just eight seconds below the projected sub 2:01 time he had been running under, but lowered his personal best from London this year by 29 seconds.Behind him in second place was Ethiopia's Tadese Bikila, who colocked 2:02.56, with his compatriot Milkesa Mengesha coming home third in 2:03.46.After all the build-up to his potential title defense, race favorite Kiplimo could only finish fourth, in a time of 2:04.18.##NAJAVA_MECA_10017147##Meanwhile in the women's race, the Kenyan duo of Sharon Lokedi and Brigid Kosgei were forced to settle for second and third places respectively, behind Ethiopia's Hawi Feysa, who made it back-to-back Chicago Marathon victories in a winning time of 2:13.33.Lokedi, running in her first flat Major, was well-placed for a stunning upset on the defending champion with less than two kilometers to go, only for her legs to give up, thus relinqushing the interesting two-way battle at the front, that had seen both runners exchange leads after the pacemakers had dropped.The two-time Boston Marathon champion, would, however, take over three minutes off her personal best time, clocking an impressive 2:14.07.Known to tackle hilly courses, Lokedi's previous personal best was 2:17.22, which she set while winning the Boston Marathon last year.Her compatriot Kosgei, on the other hand, could not repeat her 2019 heroics on the same city, as she struggled with the pace upfront, dropping from the leading pack just before the 30 kilometer mark, to finish third in a time of 2:14.55.Behind her in fourth and fifth were two other Kenyans – Mary Ngugi Cooper and Joan Kilimo – who clocked 2:17.23 and 2:18.38 respectively.More to follow…
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