The Olympic bronze medallist at 10,000 is back to defend his crown but he'll face five other sub-2:07 guys in the field plus four really interesting debutantes: Yenew Alamirew (12:48/27:19 track pbs),  Birhanu Legese (59:20 to win New Delhi Half Marathon in November), Leul Gebresilase (59:18 HM), and Fikadu Haftu (59:22).

Get the inside scoop from the Windy City.

2014 2nd and 3rd placers Sammy Kitwara and Dickson Chumba - both of whom set personal bests here a year ago - will be in the field to tackle Tokyo champ Endeshaw Negesse, Rotterdam champ Abera Kuma and '12 Boston champ Wesley Korir. The U.S. pros are led by 2:11 man Fernando Cabada and former Oregon star Luke Puskedra (61:36 half PR) as the headliners.

Ethiopians Endeshaw Negesse and Birhane Dibaba got the Major marathon season underway with their first major wins as Stephen Kiprotich was a hero in second, Tariku Bekele bombed in his debut, Japanese twitter went nuts over the marathon, and Lauren Kleppin took a shot at greatness but bombed. We break it down.

A year ago a Geoffrey Mutai (2013 NY champ), Kebede (2013 London champ), Kiprotich (2013 World Champ) match-up would have been salivating. Now all 3 titans have something to prove against defending champ Dickson Chumba as Tariku Bekele makes his debut. In all, five sub-2:05 guys will toe the line on Sunday morning (Saturday night in U.S.).