Today in Chicago, Galen Rupp followed their lead and became the first American-born winner of the Chicago Marathon in 35 years by running a personal best of 2:09:18 to win over last year’s champ Abel Kirui of Kenya who was second in 2:09:48.

 Tirunesh Dibaba wants to lower her 2:17:56 PR, Renato Canova says defending champs Abel Kirui & Florence Kiplagat are around "90%" of where they were last year. *American Sam Chelanga Thinks He Ultimately Can Run At Least 2:06 *American Diego Estrada Says He Can Run 2:07 Right Now (In Monza)

The fix most certainly doesn't appear to be in in Chicago. If Galen Rupp wins his first major on Sunday, he'll almost most certainly have had to earn it.

Kimetto and Kirui also face half-marathon WR holder Zersenay Tadese.

A great back-and-forth between Kenya's Daniel Wanjiru and all-time great Kenenisa Bekele saw Wanjiru win a close race 9 seconds ahead of Bekele in 2:05:48.

Even without Eliud Kipchoge, the 2017 London race is LOADED as Bekele (Berlin), Ghebreslassie (NYC), Kirui (Chicago) & Wanjiru (Amsterdam) all won big fall marathons, while Lilesa took Olympic silver in Rio. Kenyan stud Bedan Karoki ('15 World XC/'16 World Half silver) is also making his debut.

Kirui, "We were pushing and I was tired, but my mind kept saying ‘go Kirui, go Kirui, go Kirui, your dream is coming true today’. And I was able to achieve it."

No one has repeated in Chicago since Sammy Wanjiru in 2010 (the final race Wanjiru would ever run). Chumba is the best of a shallow men's elite field that also features two-time London champ Tsegaye Kebede and two-time world champ Abel Kirui looking to resurrect their careers.

Chicago champ/Tokyo CR holder Chumba takes on '12 Olympic medalists Stephen Kiprotich and Abel Kirui, plus Amsterdam champ Bernard Kipyego, Berlin runner-up Eliud Kiptanui and Japan's top marathoner, Masato Imai (2:07:39 pb). Eritrea's Teklemariam Medhin (two-time World XC medalist) makes his debut.

Also Tsegaye Mekonnen (2:04:32), Jonathan Maiyo (2:04:56), Markos Geneti (2:04:54), Dadi Yami (2:05:41), Feyisa Bekele (2:06:26) and Eliud Tarus (debut - 60:04 half).

2013 champ Lelisa Desisa and former world record holder Patrick Makau (2:03:38 PR) are the headliners, but there's depth behind them with five sub-2:05 men overall and five more sub-2:07 + HM world record holder Zersenay Tadese (58:23).