Sifan Hassan Wins Women’s Race at the 2023 Chicago Marathon with course record.
Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands won the Chicago Marathon on Sunday in 2:13:44—the second-fastest time in history and a new course record, improving upon the 2:14:04 set by Brigid Kosgei in 2019 (a world record at the time).
Defending champion Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya, 29, placed second in 2:15:37, while Megertu Alemu of Ethiopia, 25, was third in 2:17:09.
The 30-year-old Hassan’s victory comes in only her second marathon—she won her debut in London this spring in 2:18:33—and just six weeks after she claimed a silver in the 5,000 meters and a bronze in the 1500 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
Early on, Chepngetich and Hassan—tucked behind three male pacers, two provided by the race and one, Reid Buchanan, brought by Hassan—came through the 10K mark in 31:05.
That was 46 seconds ahead of the chase pack, and 40 seconds ahead of the time Tigst Assefa ran in her jaw-dropping 2:11:53 world-record performance in Berlin two weeks ago.
At halfway, Chepngetich pulled ever-so-slightly ahead, coming through in 65:42 with Hassan 6 seconds back. But Hassan covered mile 16 in 5:00 flat, leaving Chepngetich—and Buchanan—behind.
She dominated the remainder of the race, despite missing a bottle and briefly circling back to the table around the 30K mark. Her pace slowed—she covered the second half in 67:56—but held on to claim victory by almost two minutes.
Emily Sisson was the first American, finishing seventh in 2:22:09.
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