Jacob Kiplimo turns Chicago into a showcase of brilliance and resilience
It felt like Jacob Kiplimo was racing against the clock in Chicago. For twenty-two miles along the streets of the big shoulders, he flirted with the unthinkable. The half-marathon world record holder moved at a pace that made other runners look stationary. His stride, smooth, compact, relentless, had him defying world record pace until fatigue finally crept in. When he crossed the line in 2:02:23, it was a reminder that talent alone can get you close to greatness, but patience and consistency keep you there.
This was only Kiplimo’s second marathon. The first, a 2:03:37 second place finish in London, suggested something special was in the works. Without a doubt, Chicago proved it. For most of the run, the 23-year-old Ugandan looked immune to pain or strain, clocking 13:58 for the first 3 miles and 60:16 at the halfway point, numbers that are in world record talk. Even when the raiders were pulled aside, he ran as if driven by instinct, shaping his own pace and leaving Kenya’s John Koriri and Amos Kipruto in turns.
By mile 19, Kiplimo was alone downwind. The Michigan Avenue crowd leaned into the moment, feeling they were witnessing a rare blend of speed and grace. He still walked for history at 22 miles, clocking 1:41:05, but the body eventually betrayed the mind. His pace slowed, his shoulders tensed, and the last five miles stretched to survival, 4:46, 4:50, 4:55, 5:05 and 5:20. The world record faded, but the victory never came.
In the end, Kiplimo collapsed, his legs buckling under the weight of his efforts. “I’ve learned to be patient in a marathon,” he said afterward. “It’s about how you prepare yourself, how you add mileage to your body.” It sounded less like a quote and more like an accomplishment. For all its raw ability, the marathon remains a different kind of puzzle. Kiplimo may be the most talented distance runner, but to stay at the top of this event, he will need the kind of discipline that only repetition can teach.
There is a lesson to be learned about timing, something Kiplimo is still fine-tuning. His half-marathon brilliance, that 56:42 world record in Barcelona, ​​reflects pure speed. But over 26.2 miles, it’s less about speed and more about control. Eliud Kipchoge, Kelvin Kiptum and others built their legacies not on a single performance, but on a body of work that spanned multiple seasons. Chicago showed that Kiplimo belongs to that company. now he has to prove he can stay there.
If Kiplimo’s win was a glimmer of realized potential, Havi Feisa’s win was about transformation in women’s racing. The 24-year-old Ethiopian arrived as an underdog. He’s talented, yes, but unproven on this stage. She left as the first Ethiopian to win in Chicago in eight years, running 2:14:56 and cutting more than two minutes off her personal best. His even splits, 67:30 by the middle and 67:26 by the end, spoke of control. He walked about 28 kilometers, got rid of Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri and never looked back.
Feisa’s rise has been steady, not spectacular. Third in Tokyo, victory in Frankfurt and now this, a performance that puts him fifth on the all-time list. “It was amazing to win here,” he said. “My coach has been extremely instrumental in this block and I have him to thank.” His words reflected the humility of an athlete still working out his own progress. Like Kiplimo, Feisa showed that mastery in the marathon is not about chasing records, but learning when to push and when to wait.
It was a breakthrough day for Americans. Conner Mantz finally obliterated Khalid Khannoushi’s 22-year-old record, finishing fourth in 2:04:43. His bet at 62:18 was an aggressive half that fully paid off. Natosha Rogers also performed, lowering her personal best to 2:23:28 to finish as the top American. Each performance suggested something bigger. that the marathon, for all its unpredictability, nevertheless rewards those who run with equal courage and patience.
Kiplimo’s Chicago win will be remembered for its speed, but what makes it meaningful is what comes next. He has the raw gifts to chase records every time he lines up, but the marathon rarely rewards raw gifts alone. To join the greats, he must master the slow art of consistency that turns flashes of brilliance into permanence. Chicago was the spark. What he does with it will determine whether it becomes a legacy.
