Kelvin Kiptum running Chicago Marathon

Doesn't Chicago not have pacers? Why would he go there rather than Valencia?

Chicago does have pacers. And the answer for why any elite runner chooses a certain marathon is appearance fees. Kipchoge is taking up most of Berlins and Cheptegei for Valencia, so that really leaves Chicago/NYC with $ for fall marathons

Way to bury the lede - RUPP IS BACK, BABY! LFGOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Thanks. I recall they didn't have them for a few years but it's good they brought them back. Also didn't think about the $ aspect

This doesn't make any f****g sense. He could have ran an other 2h1' in Valencia and even make a WR with the help of pacers and a beautiful course in an epic duel with Cheptegei.

He had chosen Chicago with no pacers, no top tier marathoners. He will run a poor 2h03' in he is in a perfect shape or even a 2h04'. This choice simply doesn't make sense. I'm so disappointed.

Cheptegei is going to snatch that WR lol.

Chicago does have pacers and is where the current Women's WR was set (And 2nd fastest time). The course is fast and if the weather is fine, the WR is most definitely in play. The choice makes plenty of sense

Sorry but who is announcing Kiptum here? The Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowsk doesn't mention his name. He only says the startlist will be the deepest ever. Only the author of the article is putting kiptum's name among those others. If you check in the Chicago marathon official page there is nothing concerning Kiptum. Are we sure that Kiptum is really going to Chicago?

Chicago is a fast course, as multiple marathon world records have been set there. Kiptum will get a big appearance fee, an easy major marathon win, and a clear shot at the world record.

As a fan, I'd love to see him battle Kipchoge, Chebet and Cheptegei head to head. But that's why the Olympics are the Olympics and other marathons are "other."

Fan interest aside, there's more to gain here than to lose, for Kiptum.

Yes he’s in the official press release:

newsroom.bankofamerica.com

Defending Champions Lead a Competitive Field Looking to Continue the Tradition of Record-Breaking Performances on the Streets of Chicago

Today the Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced its full elite field for the 45th running of the event. One of the deepest, most-decorated assemblies of athletes in race history, including all four defending champions, w...

Open link

Both the men’s and women’s fields are solid with multiple headline athletes with many good story lines. Kudos to Chicago. Just hope the weather is decent.

As much as I love watching Cheptegei run, I don't think his first marathon is going to be super fast, even at Valencia. Marathon racing takes some experience and usually a few tries before you get your training (and mind) dialed-in for the distance. I would say if Chep runs 2:05 at Valencia that will be an outstanding result.

Kiptum can break the wr in Chicago, but I’m very surprised that Valencia lost this bidding war for him. Valencia wants to be a major and it would be a big win to have the wr set on their course. If they spent all their $ on Cheptegei’s debut at the expense of getting Kiptum the defending champ and likely next wr holder, that was a mistake imo.

You're truly a wise old man. Well spoken words. Valencia should have fought to bring back Kiptum and have a new WR actually they let him go elsewhere. Anyway it's impossible that he is breaking the WR in Chicago. The best pacers are in Berlin and Valencia. How many pacers does Chicago have? And Who are they?

Let me check my email for my invite to be a pacer. Maybe it went directly to the spam folder.

I expected him to run this after Kipchoge’s announcement. I won’t be surprised if he breaks it. This is a fast course if u see the right conditions - Ruth almost broke WR last year but paced poorly

Mateiko is a very interesting debut. Could be a 2:03 guy right off the bat.

Terrible weather in Chicago. In October there are 7 rainy days on average in that terrible city so "the right conditions" are not easily happening. He will more likely find wind and rain in that barely habitable place.

Do they typically announce the pacers well in advance? Anyway, EK will have put his marker down in Sept before Chicago. I doubt EK will further lower the wr. I suspect he’s just going for the win in a decent time (sub 2:04) as a confidence builder. If it’s a nice day, I think Kiptum might run sub 2:01 in Chicago, but if not, maybe he’ll get it in London next year with better weather and pacing. The Olympic marathon might preclude running fast in Berlin in 2024, but maybe Valencia next year….