The Chicago Marathon, first held in 1977, has received the prestigious World Athletics Heritage Plaque in recognition of its longstanding impact on the sport of marathon running. This accolade, awarded in the “Competition” category, celebrates the event’s deep history in Chicago, a tradition that stretches back over a century. The announcement marks the anniversary of the marathon’s inaugural race, held on September 25, 1977.
The World Athletics Heritage Plaque is a special honor, recognizing locations that have made a significant contribution to the history and development of athletics worldwide. This includes not only track and field but also road running, cross-country, and other endurance disciplines. The plaque will be displayed at the Bank of America Tower, a skyscraper in downtown Chicago that houses the race’s primary sponsor.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe highlighted the marathon’s global significance: “The Chicago Marathon is synonymous with world-class marathon running, tragically underlined by the passing of Kelvin Kiptum earlier this year. Kiptum, a rising star from Kenya, set the men’s world record in Chicago just last October, narrowly missing the two-hour barrier.”
Coe also emphasized the race’s prestige: “As a key event in the World Marathon Majors and a Platinum level World Athletics Label Race, Chicago has earned its place as one of the premier races in the global marathon calendar. With a legacy that dates back to 1905 and world-class champions like Olympic gold medalist Sifan Hassan as the current women’s course record-holder, this plaque is a well-deserved honor.”
Carey Pinkowski, executive race director for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, expressed pride in the recognition: “This honor from World Athletics acknowledges the countless individuals—runners, volunteers, city officials—who have made the Chicago Marathon a world-renowned race. What began as an idea has grown into one of the premier marathon events on the planet.”
Chicago’s Marathon Journey
Chicago’s marathon tradition began in 1905, inspired by Boston’s marathon, which started in 1897. The first race, organized by the Illinois Athletic Club, was won by Chicago native Rhud Metzner, and the event continued annually until the early 1920s.
The current Chicago Marathon was established in 1977, amid a running boom in the U.S. following Frank Shorter’s Olympic marathon victory in 1972. Named in honor of Chicago’s Mayor Richard J. Daley, who had supported the event before his passing in 1976, the inaugural race saw over 4,000 participants—a large field for the time. Dan Cloeter won the men’s race with a time of 2:17:52, and Dorothy Doolittle took the women’s title with 2:50:47.
Today, the Chicago Marathon attracts around 50,000 runners each year. Participants must complete the race, which starts and ends in Grant Park, within a 6-hour and 30-minute time limit.
The course has been the site of six world records. Notable men’s records include Steve Jones’ 1984 time of 2:08:05, Khalid Khannouchi’s 1999 mark of 2:05:42, and Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 record of 2:00:35. On the women’s side, Catherine Ndereba set a world record in 2001 with 2:18:47, followed by Paula Radcliffe’s 2:17:18 in 2002, and Brigid Kosgei’s 2:14:04 in 2019. Sifan Hassan broke the women’s course record last year.
The marathon’s illustrious list of champions includes pioneering female athletes like Rosa Mota, Joan Benoit, and Ingrid Kristiansen, as well as marathon legends such as Toshihiko Seko, Samuel Wanjiru, and Eliud Kipchoge.
The next Chicago Marathon is scheduled for Sunday, October 13, 2024. This annual event, part of the World Marathon Majors, will once again welcome thousands of runners from around the world to race through the streets of Chicago, starting and finishing in Grant Park.
