By Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo produced a masterful display at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, claiming victory in one of the fastest marathon performances ever recorded.
Kiplimo crossed the finish line in 2:02:23, setting a new Ugandan national record and recording the seventh-fastest marathon time in history.
The 23-year-old ran aggressively from the start, shadowing defending champion John Korir through the opening miles before making his move shortly after the halfway point. From there, he maintained a relentless rhythm, stretching his lead with every stride.
For much of the race, Kiplimo was running at world-record pace, staying on track until the 22-mile mark. However, the blistering early tempo eventually took its toll as his pace dipped in the closing stages, narrowly missing out on history.
Even so, the Ugandan star crossed the line more than a minute and a half clear of Kenya’s Amos Kipruto, who finished second in 2:03:54, while compatriot Alex Masai took third in 2:04:37.
Kiplimo’s performance reinforces his growing reputation as one of the world’s most formidable distance runners — and sets the stage for what could be a thrilling challenge on the global marathon circuit in the months to come.
