Bank of America Chicago Marathon – October 11, 2015

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is the pinnacle of achievement for elite athletes and everyday runners alike. On race day, runners from all 50 states and more than 100 countries will set out to accomplish a personal dream by reaching the finish line in Grant Park.

2015 Elite athlete field

Elite athlete roster
Elite athlete quotes

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Elite athlete roster

Elite athlete roster with bib numbers (.pdf)
Pronunciation guide (.pdf)
Elite athlete uniform cards (.pdf)

Men
Name Sammy Kitwara Dickson Chumba Endeshaw Negesse Abera Kuma Wesley Korir Sammy Ndungu Lucas Rotich Satoshi Yoshii Fernando Cabada Hiroyuki Yamamoto Rob Watson Liam Adams Shogo Kanezane Luke Puskedra Malcolm Richards Scott MacPherson Nicholas Hilton Ethan Shaw Tony Migliozzi Ryan Cosens Christopher Pannone Jesse Davis Brandon Mull Dan Kremske Christian Thompson Elkanah Kibet Mitch Goose Brandon Lord Sean Keveren Mohamed Hrezi	Country KEN KEN ETH ETH KEN KEN KEN JPN USA JPN CAN AUS JPN USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA GBR CAN USA USA	Personal best 2:04:28 2:04:32 2:04:52 2:05:56 2:06:13 2:07:04 2:07:17 2:10:45 2:11:36 2:11:48 2:13:29 2:13:49 2:14:22 2:15:27 2:15:49 2:16:20 2:16:20 2:17:26 2:17:27 2:17:55 2:18:05 2:18:13 2:18:14 2:18:53 2:22:48 Debut Debut Debut Debut Debut
Women
Name Deena Kastor Florence Kiplagat Joan Samuelson Mulu Seboka Birhane Dibaba Yebrgual Melese Amane Gobena Meskerem Assefa Kayoko Fukushi Diane Nukuri Blake Russell Susan Partridge Jessica Draskau Petersson Tera Moody Fionnuala Britton Lindsey Scherf Sarah Crouch Alvina Begay Taylor Ward Sara Hall Dawn Grunnagle Monika Juodeskaite Allison Mendez	Country USA KEN USA ETH ETH ETH ETH ETH JPN BDI USA GBR DNK USA IRL USA USA USA USA USA USA LTU USA	Personal best 2:19:36 2:19:44 2:21:21 2:21:56 2:22:30 2:23:23 2:23:30 2:24:21 2:25:17 2:27:50 2:29:10 2:30:46 2:30:53 2:30:53 2:31:46 2:32:19 2:32:44 2:37:14 2:38:32 2:48:02 2:56:38 Debut Debut

Men – Wheelchair Competition
Name Ernst Van Dyk Kurt Fearnley Marcel Hug Joshua George Jordi Madeera Jimenez Adam Bleakney Hiroki Nishida Jose Jiménez Hernández Gyu Dae Kim Simon Lawson Cornel Villiger Brian Siemann	Country RSA AUS SUI USA ESP USA JPN CRI PRK GBR SUI USA

Women – Elite Wheelchair Competition
Name Tatyana McFadden Amanda McGory Shirley Reilly Manuela Schaer Susannah Scaroni Diane Roy Sandra Graf	Country USA USA USA SUI USA USA SUI

Elite athlete quotes

“I have great memories for Chicago, both the battle the late Wanjiru and I had in Chicago and my victory are memories I will always carry with me.”
– Tsegaye Kebede

“I’ve been on the podium in Chicago before but not yet winning, so this will be my target this year.”
– Florence Kiplagat

“I’ve heard about Chicago from my training partner Tsegaye Kebede and I believe I will run well.”
– Abera Kuma

“Every athlete dreams of running the biggest races in the world so I am very pleased to run my AWMM debut through the streets of Chicago. My aim is to be as competitive as possible and back up my performance from Dubai with another strong result in advance of the Olympic year in 2016.”
– Mulu Seboka

“My goal has always been to run as fast as I can for as long as I can. I continue to challenge myself with new goals and look within myself for the story I want to tell at the race. When I crossed the finish line in 1985, I never thought I would be competing in the same marathon 30 years later. My challenge for this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon is to run within 30 minutes of my fastest marathon and 1985 Chicago Marathon finishing time.”
– Joan Benoit Samuelson

“Racing in Chicago has always been special. It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since my first marathon win here. I’m proud to return the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this year to celebrate that accomplishment and continue to push myself towards new goals.”
– Deena Kastor

“I am honored and thrilled to run Bank of America Chicago Marathon. It will be my debut in the AWMM and that means a lot to me. I was in the pre-selection for the World Championships and it was a disappointment when I was told others got the preference. But I have overcome that disappointment and winning Chicago would mean as much to me as winning the World Championships. I have been in America a couple of times but it will be my first time to visit Chicago”
– Lucas Rotich

“I’m looking forward to racing in Chicago. My goal is to run patiently so I can position myself near the front and show Bank of America Chicago Marathon spectators a good race.” – Satoshi Yoshii

“The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is a comeback race for me. I hope to be fit and healthy and part of a special event in a great city. It will be exciting to be in a race with a group of women working together to secure qualifying performances for the Rio Olympics.  Time wise my goal would be to run my first sub 2:30 marathon on the streets of Chicago.”
– Jessica Draskau Petersson

“I’m feeling ‘renewed’ in my running this year. At the Bank of America Chicago Marathon next month, I am aiming to improve my position from when I finished 3rd in 2:24:38 at the 2011 race, as well as to improve my PB of 2:24:21.”
– Kayoko Fukushi

“I’ve been focusing on road racing in the last few months as Rio is in my sights. I can’t wait to experience Chicago and try my hand at an American marathon.”
– Fionnuala Britton

“I am delighted to be running the Chicago Marathon this year and greatly look forward to competing in such an iconic race. It will be even more special as I’ll be following in the footsteps of my coach and former winner, Steve Jones. Every athlete’s dream is to represent their country at the Olympics and therefore the Rio Qualification standard is my aim in what will be my only marathon race this year.”
– Susan Patridge

“I am thrilled to finally get my chance to run the Chicago Marathon, something I have wanted to do since being a part of the race with Team World Vision for the first time in 2008. The flat, fast course, exciting atmosphere, and post-race Charity Village make it a race unlike any I’ve been to. I love that the Chicago Marathon not only puts on an excellent elite competition but makes a commitment to support charities, like ours which had its highest fundraising day through the race in 2010. It will be the perfect place to take another shot at the marathon distance and build confidence and refine my focus going into the Olympic year.”
– Sara Hall

“I am thrilled to be competing again and am eagerly awaiting Chicago.  I am happy to admit that this 40-year-old can give the young’ins a run for their money. I am enjoying where my latest running journeys will take me and relishing it along the way.”
– Blake Russell

“I am extremely honored to be lining up against some of the fastest runners in the world at this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon! My focus is to run fast and beat some good people. I am hoping I can lower my 2:11:36 PB by a minute or two and have been training with this as my goal. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity, to show the running world what I am capable of.”
– Fernando Cabada

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this year, one of the top marathons in the world. Chicago was my first marathon back in 2010, and I am looking forward to being competitive this time. I’m also looking forward to the fast course. And I love the city of Chicago!”
– Diane Nukuri

“I am not going to Chicago to run a RIO OLYMPICS Marathon qualifier (2.12.30) I am going to Chicago to run a massive PB, and I am in the shape to do so.”
– Liam Adams

“I am excited to compete at the Chicago Marathon, a race with great tradition in a distinguished city. With this being my debut marathon, I am venturing into the unknown and hope to learn a lot about the marathon distance to put me in good stead for attempting to represent Great Britain at the 2016 Olympics. As we come from the same region, my running idol has always been 1996 Chicago Marathon winner Paul Evans so I am thrilled to get the chance to compete in a race that I have always associated with a guy I look up to.”
– Mitch Goose

“After a long break due to injury I am thrilled to be part of my favorite race again this year for the 6th time. I may not quite be in PR shape but hoping for an A standard qualifier for the Olympic trials. I can’t wait to compete in front of my hometown crowd in the best city in the world. It may not be the fastest I have run here but I doubt it will be the slowest and probably the most fun. I know that after what I’ve been through I won’t take one step for granted.”
– Tera Moody

“I’m ecstatic to be lining up at the 2015 Chicago Marathon. This will be first time racing in a World Marathon Majors event, and I couldn’t be more excited. The Chicago Marathon has such a colorful history, and to be able to a part of it will be incredible. I hope to represent myself, my community, and my team to the best of my abilities.”
– Nick Hilton

“With two marathons under my belt, my training this time around is more informed and more focused towards being fine tuned specifically for the marathon and most importantly I know how not to be overtrained when I toe the line in Chicago on October 11th.  I have chosen Chicago because I want to run as fast as possible as Chicago is a great place go after a time goal because the streets are flat, the city is scenic and inspiring and the crowds on the course are fantastic and keep you motivated throughout the 26.2 mile tour of the city.  Ultimately, conditions permitting, I’m aiming to break 2:30.”
– Lindsey Scherf

“I am tremendously excited and honored to be a part of the 2015 Chicago Marathon. This is a race that I have always wanted to run. Chicago is known for its fast course, raucous crowds and world class fields. I believe that this race will provide the perfect opportunity to run a fast time and hopefully allow me to earn a spot on the Canadian Olympic Marathon team. As a big running nerd, and fan of the sport I am also stoked to race in an event with such rich history. Many amazing stories and unforgettable performances have taken place on the streets of Chicago throughout the years. Steve Jones in ‘84 and ‘85, Khalid Khannouchi in ‘99 and of course the feats of the late Sammy Wanjiru in ‘09 and ‘10. It is humbling to get to toe the line and follow in these legends footsteps. Basically The Chicago Marathon is everything a major marathon should be, and I am pumped to be part of the 2105 race!”
– Rob Watson

“I love making a living on my legs.  I love the feeling of breaking the tape.  I ran Chicago last year, and it was an amazing experience — I shaved 12 minutes off my previous personal best — and I can’t wait to go after another breakthrough performance this year on the marathon’s fast, flat course.”
– Sarah Crouch

American Development Program

The American Development Program* recognizes the fastest amateur athletes in the 2015 Bank of America Chicago Marathon and is part of our ongoing effort to support up-and-coming American marathoners. These athletes are top local and/or regional runners who may be competing for personal best times or Olympic Trials qualifying performances, but are not necessarily top national or international competitors. American Development Program qualifiers receive race morning amenities and start corral placement at the front of the field, directly behind the Elite Corral.

*Please note that while this program is geared toward American athletes, non-U.S. citizens who meet the qualifying standards will be accepted into the American Development Program.

Qualifying standards	Half marathon	Marathon
Men	sub 1:11:00	sub 2:31:00
Women	sub 1:21:00	sub 3:01:00

Qualifying times must have been run no earlier than January 1, 2013 and no later than September 1, 2015.

Program amenities include:

• Separate and secure start/finish area tent
• Private toilet facilities
• Private gear check
• Access to American Development Start Corral 15 minutes prior to official race start
• Opportunity to start directly behind the Elite Corral

The deadline to apply for the American Development Program was Tuesday, September 1, 2015. The event is no longer accepting applications into the 2015 program.

Runner in the American Development Program are encouraged to review the following documents:

American Development Program instructions (.pdf)

American Development Program Tent location (.pdf)

Source: Bank of America Chicago Marathon