Hawi Feysa Defends Chicago Marathon Title in Personal Best

Ethiopian runner Hawi Feysa has won the Chicago Marathon for the second year in a row. She crossed the line on Sunday in 2 hours, 13 minutes and 33 seconds, a new personal best. World Athletics reported that the time moves her to fourth on the world all-time list.

Hawi beat Kenya’s Sharon Lokedi by 34 seconds, according to NBC Sports. Lokedi is a past winner of the Boston and New York City marathons. Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, a former world record holder, finished third in 2:14:55.

World Athletics said it was the first marathon in history in which three women ran faster than 2:15.

A late move in the final mile

The women started fast. A group of seven reached 5 kilometres (km) in 15:36, World Athletics reported. By 10km, Hawi and Kosgei had moved clear of the rest.

Lokedi later closed the gap. Four women were together at halfway, which they reached in 1:06:06. After 30km, the race became a duel between Hawi and Lokedi.

The two ran side by side for more than an hour. With about one kilometre left, there was still nothing between them. Then Hawi made her move. NBC Sports said she pulled away in the last mile.

Marathon Handbook reported that Hawi ran the final 2.2km in 6 minutes and 50 seconds. Lokedi needed 7:24 for the same stretch. The outlet added that Hawi earns $100,000 for the win.

The new time cuts 84 seconds from the 2:14:57 she ran to win Chicago last year, according to World Athletics. World-Track reported that she is the first woman to win back-to-back Chicago titles since Ruth Chepngetich in 2021 and 2022.

Hawi Feysa at mile 25 of the Chicago Marathon on her way to her first title, Chicago, United States, October 12, 2025 (Photoguy1212 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0) [file photo]

Ethiopian men take second and third

Kenya’s Amos Kipruto won the men’s race in 2:01:09. World Athletics said the time equals the mark Eliud Kipchoge ran in Berlin in 2022, which was then a world record.

Ethiopians filled the next two places. Tadese Bikila finished second in a personal best of 2:02:56. Milkesa Mengesha came third in 2:03:46. Both passed Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo late in the race, World Athletics reported. Kiplimo finished fourth.

Boki Diriba, another Ethiopian, placed fifth in 2:05:01. In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Degitu Azimeraw finished eighth in 2:20:59.

World Marathon Majors said Hawi’s time is the fourth fastest in the history of the six major marathons. The win is the third big marathon title of her career. World Athletics listed her earlier wins as Frankfurt in 2024 and Chicago in 2025.

Chicago is a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, the top level for road events. The last major marathon of 2026 is the New York City Marathon on November 1, according to NBC Sports.

NBC Chicago spoke with Hawi after the race. In the video below, she describes the moment she knew she would win.

Hawi Feysa speaks after winning the 2026 Chicago Marathon (NBC Chicago, YouTube, October 11, 2026)