CHICAGO — Tens of thousands of runners crossed the start line in Grant Park on Sunday for the 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, one of the six World Marathon Majors. Organisers capped the field at roughly 50,000 participants, with elite athletes competing for the men's and women's titles.

The race follows a 26.2-mile loop through 29 neighbourhoods, prized for its flat and fast course that has repeatedly yielded world records. Kenyan and Ethiopian distance runners have dominated recent editions, entering with the memory of Kelvin Kiptum's 2023 world record of 2:00:35 set on the same streets.

Crowds lined the route from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Pilsen and Chinatown. Charity runners raised millions of dollars for partner organisations while race officials coordinated with the Chicago Department of Public Health and city emergency services, monitoring temperatures that have required heat precautions in past years.

The event is a cornerstone of the city's autumn calendar and a major economic driver, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for Chicago hotels, restaurants and retailers. Thousands of international visitors travelled to take part.

The Chicago result carries added weight ahead of the marathon season's finale, shaping form and rankings as elite runners build toward the 2027 World Athletics Championships and future major races.