Kiplimo will line up against the defending Chicago marathon champ John Korir
Some felt that Kiplimo specialising in the marathon this year was a bit too soon, but the average marathon age has been shifting younger over the last few years.
After his world record in Barcelona, the 56-minute half-marathoner could easily do a 2:01 on a fast and flat course. Kiplimo was second at the 2025 London Marathon in April in 2:2:37, the fastest ever by a Ugandan.
“I decided to withdraw from the World Championship to have more time to concentrate on preparations ahead of the Chicago Marathon,” Kiplimo told the Independent.
“I am very happy because my body is responding well and I believe I am in good form to deliver a good performance in Chicago,” added Kiplimo, who said before London that he had no intentions of breaking 2:00:00 as hyped.
In Chicago, he will be up against another strong field that includes John Korir, the Kenyan who raced to the eighth-fastest marathon time in history of 2:02:44, and has declared his intent to chase his year-old personal best, which could mean getting even closer to Kiptum’s world record.
Bashir Abdi, the Belgian Olympic marathon silver medallist, will return to the marathon course for the first time since completing the epic Paris 2024 race.
Reigning Rotterdam marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor will also make his debut at the Chicago Marathon, seeking his first World Marathon Major win since defending his New York Marathon title in 2019.
Conner Mantz leads the local field, which also sees the return of double Olympic medallist Galen Rupp. Mantz has his sights set on the 2:05:38 US record that has stood for more than two decades.