Post-Race Content: Men’s Race Writeup | Women’s Race Writeup 

Pre-Race Content:	Men’s Preview & Lineup | Women’s Preview & Lineup
Event Press Releases: Press Releases Page | Other News Sources

On this page:
– Preview/Writeup
– Starter List
– Previous Runner Matchups

2013 Bank of America Chicago Marathon – Men’s Preview
by John Elliott

Photo Credit: Victah Sailer/PhotoRun Former Champ Mosop Returns to Chicago

For years, the Chicago Marathon had an inferiority complex. While everyone knew that the Chicago Marathon’s course was flat and fast and had been the scene of a number of world records in the men’s and women’s marathon races – the finishing times at the race had fallen behind those of its rivals and partners. Even with new course records in 2009 (Sammy Wanjiru, 2:05:41) and 2011 (Moses Mosop, 2:05:37), those records were behind the best times at all of the other World Marathon Majors races (including the difficult NYC Marathon course) and slower than a half dozen other marathons as well, including Frankfurt, Rotterdam, Dubai, Paris, Seoul and Fukuoka.

But in 2012, all of that changed. With a stellar field, three men ran faster than the course record of the prior year and the new record – Tsegay Kebede’s 2:04:38 – set Chicago up to claim its rightful place as clearly one of the fastest courses in the world.

For the 2013 race, Chicago has brought together four men who have previously run faster than 2:05: Moses Mosop (2:03:06 at wind-aided 2012 Boston Marathon), Dennis Kimetto (2:04:16 at 2012 Berlin Marathon), Ayele Abshero (2:04;23 at 2012 Dubai Marathon) and Emmanuel Mutai (2:04:40 at 2011 London Marathon).

Of the speed demons, a number of pundits give Dennis Kimetto the nod as favorite given that he has run only two marathons but both have been stellar: the fastest debut in history at 2:04:16) and his new course record win at the 2013 Tokyo Marathon in 2:06:50. Moses Mosop will be looking to reclaim his title and perhaps course record after not coming to defend his title in 2012 as he was tapped to represent Kenya at the Olympic Games – he has been out for injury and the 2013 Chicago Marathon will also mark his comeback with much on the line.

In addition to the men mentioned previously, Sammy Kitwara, Zersenay Tadesse and Micah Kogo are three with great promise and three to watch. Kitwara was fourth at the 2012 Chicago Marathon in 2:05:54 in his debut marathon – but his 58:48 Half Marathon best time suggests he may be capable of even more. Zersenay Tadesse holds the fastest two times ever run at the Half Marathon distance – 58:23 and 58:30 – but has failed to run faster than 2:10 at his two attempts at the marathon…will the 2013 Chicago Marathon be his breakthrough marathon? Lastly, Micah Kogo’s only marathon time of 2:10:27 might have people forget this Kenyan – except that his time was achieved while placing second at the Boston Marathon and his 59:07 Half Marathon time suggests he can run with the best.

And for the Americans… While we Americans love all of the elite runners, we always hope that an American can rise to be among the best in the world. Dathan Ritzenhein’s breakthrough 2:07:47 at the 2012 Chicago Marathon suggest that he is almost there – and we will be waiting to see how and whether he can improve on that. And Matt Tegenkamp, the USA Olympian at 5000m in 2008 and 10000m in 2012, will be running his debut marathon at Chicago – while we can’t expect Tegenkamp to compete for a win or top three finish, we will look forward to seeing whether America will boast another credible marathoner in its roster.

Elite Men’s Lineup: back to top

Male Elite Athletes
Athlete	Country	Bib	Personal Best	Chicago
Moses Mosop (28)	KEN	2	2:03:06, Boston, 2011	History
Dennis Kimetto (29)	KEN	3	2:04:16, Berlin, 2012	History
Ayele Abshero (22)	ETH	4	2:04:23, Dubai, 2012	History
Emannuel Mutai (29)	KEN	5	2:04:40, London, 2011	History
Sammy Kitwara (26)	KEN	6	2:05:54, Chicago, 2012	History
Tariku Jufar (30)	ETH	7	2:06:51, Houston, 2012	History
Atsedu Tsegay (21)	ETH	8	Debut	History
Dathan Ritzenhein (31)	USA	9	2:07:47, Chicago, 2012	History
Mike Kigen (27)	KEN	10	2:08:24, Dubai, 2013	History
Yoshinori Oda (33)	JPN	11	2:09:03, Tokyo, 2011	History
Micah Kogo (27)	KEN	12	2:10:27, Boston, 2013	History
Zersenay Tadese (31)	ERI	13	2:10:41, London, 2012	History
Matt Tegenkamp (31)	USA	14	Debut	History
Merkebu Birke (25)	ETH	15	Debut	History
Tesfaye Sendeku (29)	ETH	16	2:11:17, San Diego, 2012	History
Michael Shelley (29)	AUS	17	2:11:23, Amsterdam, 2011	History
Eliud Ngetich (19)	KEN	18	2:11:59, Duluth, 2013	History
Kenji Higashino (27)	JPN	19	2:12:13, Oita, 2013	History
Hiroaki Sano (25)	JPN	20	2:12:14, Nobeoka, 2013	History
Hirokatsu Kurosaki (28)	JPN	21	2:12:22, Nobeoka, 2013	History
Yoshiki Ohtsuka (26)	JPN	22	2:12:51, Oita, 2013	History
Hiroki Tanaka (30)	JPN	23	2:13:09, Tokyo, 2013	History
Norihide Fujimori (28)	JPN	24	2:13:11, Tokyo, 2013	History
Sean Quigley (28)	USA	25	2:14:12, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon, 2012	History
Mike Morgan (33)	USA	26	2:14:22, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon, 2012	History
Mike Sayenko (29)	USA	27	2:14:27, Chicago, 2010	History
Craig Leon (28)	USA	28	2:14:38, Boston, 2013	History
Luke Humphrey (32)	USA	29	2:14:39, San Diego, 2011	History
Matt Dewald (31)	USA	30	2:17:42, Duluth, 2013	History
Chris Pannone (27)	USA	31	2:18:05, Boston, 2011	History
Stephen Muturi (38)	USA	32	2:18:51, Minneapolis-St. Paul, 2009	History
Eric Loeffler (36)	USA	33	2:18:36, Sacramento, 2011	History
Chris Siemers (32)	USA	34	2:18:48, Rock N Roll Denver Marathon, 2011	History
Brandon Mull (27)	USA	35	2:20:03, Chicago, 2009	History
Dastaho Dvench (37)	ISR	36	2:20:07, Paris, 2007	History
Dan Kremske (24)	USA	37	Debut	History
Jared Ward (25)	USA	38	Debut	History
Pius Nyantika	KEN	39	2:15:50, Paris, 2011	History
Chris Barnicle (26)	USA		Debut	History
Tilahun Regassa (23)	ETH		2:05:27, Chicago, 2012	History
Paul Lonyangata (21)	KEN		2:07:44, Xiamen, 2013	History
Ricky Flynn (26)	USA		2:13:41, 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon, 2012	History

Past Head-To-Head Men’s Athlete Meetings

Men
Boston – Apr 18, 2022
21	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:13:46
26	Jared Ward (USA)	2:15:24
The Marathon Project – Dec 20, 2020
18	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:13:34
32	Dan Kremske (USA)	2:15:36
35	Jared Ward (USA)	2:16:35
2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon – Feb 29, 2020
27	Jared Ward (USA)	2:15:54
32	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:16:46
41	Craig Leon (USA)	2:17:53
112	Brandon Mull (USA)	2:25:56
New York City – Nov 3, 2019
6	Jared Ward (USA)	2:10:45
24	Craig Leon (USA)	2:18:20
Boston – Apr 15, 2019
8	Jared Ward (USA)	2:09:25
19	Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)	2:16:19
Sacramento – Dec 3, 2017
7	Craig Leon (USA)	2:13:41
23	Eric Loeffler (USA)	2:17:34
Valencia – Nov 19, 2017
1	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)	2:05:15
12	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:10:14
Chicago – Oct 8, 2017
8	Zersenay Tadese (ERI)	2:12:19
10	Michael Shelley (AUS)	2:12:52
27	Chris Siemers (USA)	2:23:52
London – Apr 23, 2017
10	Michael SHELLEY (AUS)	2:11:38
30	Tilahun REGASSA (ETH)	2:18:53
Boston – Apr 17, 2017
10	Jared Ward (USA)	2:15:28
11	Sean Quigley (USA)	2:15:34
18	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:19:33
24	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:23:12
30	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:25:02
34	Eric Loeffler (USA)	2:26:00
Paris – Apr 9, 2017
1	Paul Lonyangata (KEN)	2:06:10
10	Micah Kogo (KEN)	2:10:03
Chicago – Oct 9, 2016
4	Paul Lonyangata (KEN)	2:13:17
18	Micah Kogo (KEN)	2:20:03
Rio de Janeiro Olympics – Aug 21, 2016
6	Jared WARD (USA)	2:11:30
47	Michael SHELLEY (AUS)	2:18:06
London – Apr 24, 2016
6	Tilahun Regassa (ETH)	2:09:47
9	Dennis Kimetto (KEN)	2:11:44
Boston – Apr 18, 2016
5	Paul Lonyangata (KEN)	2:15:45
6	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN )	2:16:43
Los Angeles Trials – Feb 13, 2016
3	Jared Ward (USA)	2:13:00
9	Sean Quigley (USA)	2:15:52
22	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:20:59
29	Craig Leon (USA )	2:22:47
Chicago – Oct 11, 2015
2	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)	2:09:50
29	Brandon Mull (USA)	2:22:54
40	Dan Kremske (USA)	2:24:42
London – Apr 26, 2015
3	Dennis Kimetto (KEN)	2:05:50
5	Tilahun Regassa (ETH)	2:07:16
6	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)	2:07:43
11	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:10:54
12	Michael Shelley (AUS)	2:11:19
Boston – Apr 20, 2015
7	Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)	2:11:20
11	Matt Tegenkamp (USA)	2:13:52
Los Angeles – Mar 15, 2015
3	JARED WARD (USA)	2:12:56
7	MIKE MORGAN (USA)	2:16:56
19	LUKE HUMPHREY (USA)	2:25:43
Xiamen – Jan 3, 2015
1	Moses Mosop (KEN)	2:06:19
2	Tilahun Regassa (ETH)	2:06:54
Sacramento – Dec 7, 2014
4	Eliud Ngetich (AUS)	2:15:28
17	Eric Loeffler (USA)	2:18:18
Chicago – Oct 12, 2014
2	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)	2:04:28
15	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:14:42
19	Craig Leon (USA)	2:16:00
27	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:18:19
36	Dan Kremske (USA)	2:21:17
Berlin – Sep 28, 2014
1	Dennis Kimetto (KEN)	2:02:57
2	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:03:13
Boston – Apr 21, 2014
9	Paul Lonyangata (KEN)	2:12:34
12	Craig Leon (USA)	2:14:28
17	Micah Kogo (ERI)	2:17:12
38	Matt Dewald (USA)	2:24:35
London – Apr 13, 2014
4	Ayele Absehero (ETH)	2:06:31
7	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:08:19
Tokyo – Feb 23, 2014
3	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)	2:06:30
11	Hirokatsu Kurosaki (JPN)	2:09:07
Chicago – Oct 13, 2013
1	Dennis Kimetto (KEN)	2:03:45
2	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:03:52
3	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)	2:05:16
4	Micah Kogo (KEN)	2:06:56
5	Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)	2:09:45
6	Ayele Absehero (ETH)	2:10:10
7	Hiroaki Sano (JPN)	2:10:29
8	Moses Mosop (KEN)	2:11:19
9	Yoshinori Oda (JPN)	2:11:29
10	Matt Tegenkamp (USA)	2:12:28
11	Mike Kigen (KEN)	2:12:40
12	Michael Shelley (ETH)	2:13:09
13	Kenji Higashino (JPN)	2:13:52
14	Craig Leon (USA)	2:13:52
15	Norihide Fujimori (JPN)	2:13:54
16	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:15:01
18	Hiroki Tanaka (JPN)	2:15:35
19	Jared Ward (USA)	2:16:17
21	Pius Nyantika (KEN)	2:17:38
22	Sean Quigley (USA)	2:17:45
23	Brandon Mull (USA)	2:18:14
24	Eric Loeffler (USA)	2:18:39
25	Dan Kremske (USA)	2:18:52
26	Matt Dewald (USA)	2:19:30
47	Stephen Muturi (USA)	2:26:02
Duluth – Jun 22, 2013
3	Eliud Ngetich (AUS)	2:11:59
16	Matt Dewald (USA)	2:17:42
London – Apr 21, 2013
2	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:06:33
3	Ayele Absehero (ETH)	2:06:57
Boston – Apr 15, 2013
2	Micah Kogo (KEN)	2:10:27
10	Craig Leon (USA)	2:14:38
20	Matt Dewald (USA)	2:19:35
Rotterdam – Apr 14, 2013
1	Tilahun Regassa (ETH)	2:05:38
3	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)	2:07:22
Chicago – Oct 7, 2012
3	Tilahun Regassa (ETH)	2:05:27
4	Sammy Kirop Kitwara (KEN)	2:05:54
9	Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)	2:07:47
20	Craig Leon (USA )	2:15:38
28	Stephen Muturi (KEN)	2:19:37
London Olympics – Aug 12, 2012
16	Michael SHELLEY (AUS)	2:14:10
17	Emmanuel MUTAI (KEN)	2:14:49
London – Apr 22, 2012
7	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:08:01
14	Zersenay Tadese (ERI)	2:10:41
Dubai – Jan 27, 2012
1	Ayele Absehero (ETH)	2:04:23
Houston Trials – Jan 14, 2012
12	Ricky Flynn (USA)	2:13:41
16	Sean Quigley (USA)	2:14:12
17	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:14:22
26	Craig Leon (USA )	2:15:42
30	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:16:40
77	Eric Loeffler (USA)	2:25:05
Chicago – Oct 9, 2011
1	Moses Mosop (KEN)	2:05:37
20	Eric Loeffler (USA)	2:20:56
28	Brandon Mull (USA)	2:22:34
Minneapolis-St. Paul – Oct 2, 2011
8	PIUS NYANTIKA (KEN)	2:15:50
14	STEPHEN MUTURI (KEN)	2:20:16
Daegu World Championships – Sep 4, 2011
29	Yoshinori Oda (JPN)	2:18:05
31	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:18:30
37	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:22:49
Duluth – Jun 18, 2011
19	Stephen Muturi (KEN)	2:20:01
22	Matt Dewald (USA)	2:22:06
San Diego – Jun 5, 2011
2	Tesfaye Sendeku (ETH)	2:12:23
5	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:14:39
London – Apr 17, 2011
1	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:04:40
New York City – Nov 7, 2010
2	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:09:18
8	DATHAN RITZENHEIN (USA)	2:12:33
28	ERIC LOEFFLER (USA)	2:26:47
Chicago – Oct 10, 2010
10	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:14:27
11	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:14:55
12	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:15:49
23	Brandon Mull (USA)	2:21:01
Minneapolis-St. Paul – Oct 3, 2010
10	CRAIG LEON (USA )	2:18:29
22	MATT DEWALD (USA)	2:23:59
Duluth – Jun 19, 2010
14	Stephen Muturi (KEN)	2:24:13
16	Tesfaye Sendeku (ETH)	2:25:02
London – Apr 25, 2010
2	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:06:23
7	Zersenay Tadese (ERI)	2:12:03
Duluth – Jun 20, 2009
6	Stephen Muturi (KEN)	2:20:55
13	Matt Dewald (USA)	2:25:20
London – Apr 26, 2009
4	Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)	2:06:53
11	Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)	2:10:00
Minneapolis-St. Paul – Oct 5, 2008
4	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:17:58
5	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:19:18
New York City Trials – Nov 3, 2007
2	Dathan Ritzenhein (USA)	2:11:07
12	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:16:28
29	Mike Sayenko (USA)	2:18:35
43	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:20:34
Chicago – Oct 22, 2006
15	Mike Morgan (USA)	2:15:11
18	Luke Humphrey (USA)	2:15:22
95	Matt Dewald (USA)	2:27:00