Sifan Hassan Runs 2:13:44 to Win 2023 Chicago Marathon Six Weeks After Worlds Triple

Sifan Hassan’s quest to redefine what we thought was possible for a professional distance runner continued in fine fashion today as she ran 2:13:44, the second-fastest marathon time in history, to win the 2023 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Hassan accomplished this feat just 43 days after finishing up her triple at the World Championships on the track in Budapest, which included a bronze medal in the 1500m and a silver medal at 5000m.

Two-time defending champ Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya, whose 2:14:18 winning time in 2022 was at the time the second-fastest marathon ever, was second in 2:15:37 (tied for the 8th-fastest time ever). 2023 London Marathon runner-up Mergetu Alemu of Ethiopia was third in a career best of 2:17:09 as former New York and London champ Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya PR’d for fourth (2:17:23). Emily Sisson, who broke the American record last year in Chicago in 2:18:29, took top American honors in 7th in 2:22:09 after battling a side stitch for the final eight miles. The most encouraging American result came from Olympic bronze medallist Molly Seidel, who ran her best race since 2021 New York, a personal best 2:23:07 for 8th.

Emma Bates, who hit halfway with Sisson in 69:31, struggled with a plantar issue during the second half and had to stop to walk multiple times. She wound up 13th in 2:25:04 and had to be helped to the medical tent after crossing the finish line. 

Des Linden, who turned 40 in July, finished 17th in 2:27:35 to take 12 seconds off Deena Kastor’s US masters record set on the same course eight years ago.

*Results

The Race

When Hassan won her marathon debut in London in April, she did so by storming back from way off the pace after she battled a quad injury in the race. Today, Hassan came from behind but it was a much smaller deficit. For the second straight year, Chepngetich went out hard, hitting 5k in 15:42 and 10k in 31:05 (that’s 2:11:09 marathon pace) and Hassan was with her. But by 15k (46:36 – 2:11:05 pace), Hassan was a few meters back, though not disconnected from Chepngetich and her pacers. 

Fifty-five minutes into the race, Hassan took the lead before Chepngetich once again came back and led, growing her lead to six seconds at halfway (65:42 for Chepngetich, 65:48 for Hassan). In the 15th mile, Hassan caught back up with Chepngetich and in the 17th mile, Hassan broke free and never relinquished the lead.

At 30k (1:34:00 for Hassan), Hassan had gained a 10-second lead on Chepngetich despite running her slowest 5k segment of the race so far (15:55) and for the first time, the women’s leader was no longer on world record pace as 1:34:00 for 40k projects out to 2:12:12 pace, slightly behind the astounding 2:11:53 that Tigst Assefa ran two weeks ago.

Hassan’s lead would only get bigger and bigger and the big question became, “How fast would Hassan end up running?”

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Hassan would slow ever so slightly on the way home as she ran the 30 to 35k in 16:17 and 35k to 40k in 16:19 before closing the final 2.2k in 7:08 (16:14 5k pace). In the end, Hassan ran her first half in 65:48 and second half in 67:56 to become the second woman in history under 2:14:00.

Sifan Hassan’s 5k splits

05K 00:15:43 15:43 03:09 19.09
10K 00:31:05 15:22 03:05 19.52
15K 00:46:37 15:32 03:07 19.31
20K 01:02:16 15:39 03:08 19.17
25K 01:18:06 15:50 03:10 19.04
30K 01:34:00 15:54 03:11 18.87
35K 01:50:17 16:17 03:16 18.42
40K 02:06:36 16:19 03:16 18.39
Finish 02:13:44 07:08 03:15 18.46

Results

The American Battle

Behind Hassan, the top Americans Emily Sisson and Emma Bates went out in 69:31 for the first half. Bates, who had led much of the 2022 Boston Marathon before finishing 5th in 2:22:10, thought she was in sub-2:20 shape coming into this one but she soon ran into a lot of trouble as by 25k, she was 21 seconds behind Sisson who was still maintaining her 2:19 pace. At 30k (1:38:47 – 2:18:56 pace), Sisson was 1:04 up on Bates.

Sisson soon started to slow herself as the side stitch hit her at 18 miles. After running much of the first 30k like a metronome, with each 5k segment between 16:26-16:32, Sisson only covered the 30 to 35k segment in 17:25, and then ran 35k to 40k in just 17:56 before running 8:01 for the final 2.2k (18:15 pace) to close off a 72:38 second half. Bates, hampered by pain in her foot, endured a disastrous second half — 75:33 — as she ended up finishing 13th in 2:25:04.

Molly Seidel ended up with her pb by running splits of 70:47-72:20.

Quick Take: What else can we say about Sifan Hassan?

Over the years, we’ve seen track stars move up and excel at the marathon, but Hassan is different as she’s excelling on the track and in the marathon at the same time. And it’s not like Hassan is just a 10,000 specialist who also runs the marathon. Remember, Sifan Hassan has a 1:56 800 pb and medalled at Worlds in the 1500 47 days ago.

So if you’re keeping track at home…

April 23: Runs 2:18:33 to win London Marathon
August 22: Runs 3:56.00 to earn bronze in 1500m at Worlds
October 8: Runs 2:13:44 to win Chicago Marathon

In the modern professional era, we’ve never seen anything remotely like Sifan Hassan’s 2023 season.

Quick Take: In terms of Americans, the biggest winner was Molly Seidel

Emily Sisson was top American today but her final 12.2k was a real struggle. Molly Seidel also slowed over the second half but the fact that she ran a PR is a huge step forward for her as she’s struggled mightily since finishing 4th at the 2021 New York City Marathon. That was her last marathon finish before today.

Seidel may have to run better than she did today to make the Olympic team but today’s run clearly puts her back into consideration for the Olympic team.

The Fastest American Marathoners Since 2022
Emily Sisson 2:18:29
Keira D’Amato 2:19:12
Betsy Saina 2:21:40
Emma Bates 2:22:10
Sara Hall 2:22:10
Molly Seidel 2:23:07
Aliphine Tuliamuk 2:24:37

Seidel has been open about her battles with injury, mental health, and an eating disorder over the past two years. Just over a year ago, when Seidel was not able to run the World Championships on home soil in Eugene, she said she hit her floor.

“Lowest point was probably [withdrawing from] Worlds last year and not even knowing how long it was going to take to keep coming back but knowing that it was going to take a while to get things back on track,” Seidel said. “It’s been really hard having to put in that work, and it has been a lot of work.”

Most of Seidel’s performances at shorter distances over the last two years have not been particularly fast while the likes of Sisson and Bates have run phenomenal marathons. That allowed Seidel to enter Chicago under the radar, and she said it was much easier to race that way compared to Boston last year where she was a media darling in high demand.

“I was able to just focus on what I needed to do and treating this like just executing a job and none of the pomp and circumstance,” Seidel said.

Today’s run will put a lot more pressure and expectations on Seidel’s shoulders heading into the Trials – but pressure and expectations are usually signs that you’re doing something right.