FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Defending Champion and Three-Time Olympian Galen Rupp and American
Marathon Debut Record Holder Jordan Hasay Will Return to Run the
2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
CHICAGO - The Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced today that
defending champion and three-time Olympic medalist Galen Rupp and American
marathon debut record-holder Jordan Hasay will compete for top honors at
the 41st annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 7. Last
October, Rupp and Hasay became the first American duo to finish in the top
three since Jerry Lawson and Kristy Johnston took home a pair of
second-place finishes in 1996.
"Galen and Jordan are leading an exciting American resurgence in the
marathon, and we are thrilled to welcome them back to Chicago this coming
fall," said Executive Race Director Carey Pinkowski. "Galen won in a
decisive move last year and just dominated a talented men's field. He's a
phenomenal athlete who has taken his track speed to the roads with
incredible success. Jordan ran with pure guts and she was rewarded with a
podium finish and the fastest American time ever run on Chicago's course.
She has found her distance with the marathon."
Rupp's commitment to Chicago comes on the heels of his impressive victory
and personal best at the Prague Marathon on May 6. Rupp ran to a convincing
win, stopping the clock in 2:06:07 to become the third-fastest American
ever (behind Khalid Khannouchi and Ryan Hall) and the second-fastest
American on a record-eligible course.
Rupp, the 2016 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist and the 2012 Olympic
10,000m silver medalist, stamped his name in Chicago Marathon history with
less than three miles to go last fall to become the first American male to
win since Khannouchi broke the tape in 2002, ending a long drought for U.S.
men. He finished in 2:09:20. Rupp's victory added an exclamation point to
an already stellar marathon career. He won his inaugural marathon at the
2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, took home a bronze medal in his second
26.2-mile journey in Rio and finished second in Boston in 2017. Rupp, a
member of the Nike Oregon Project, currently owns four American records in
the 10,000m (26:44.36), indoor 3,000m (7:30.16), indoor two-mile (8:07.41)
and indoor 5,000m (13:01.26). He is the 15th-fastest man in history over
10,000m, and his 5000m personal record (PR), 12:58.90, puts him in an
exclusive category of American runners - he is one of only six Americans to
break 13:00 for the distance. In March, Rupp narrowly missed breaking Ryan
Hall's American record by four seconds in the half marathon, running 59:47
to become only the third American to break 60 minutes and the
second-fastest American in history.
"I'm so excited to be returning to Chicago to defend my title," said Rupp.
"I'd like to thank Carey and everyone at the Bank of America Chicago
Marathon for all the great work they do. I couldn't be more thrilled to be
heading back to the Windy City."
Hasay, also a member of the Nike Oregon Project, ran bravely in Chicago
last fall, hitting the first 10K on course-record pace and hanging on to
finish third in the second-fastest time ever recorded by an American woman
and the fastest American time ever in Chicago, 2:20:57. Hasay initially
turned heads at the 2017 Boston Marathon with a spectacular debut
performance. She finished third in 2:23:00, the fastest marathon debut ever
by an American woman by almost three minutes; she also turned in the
fourth-fastest Boston Marathon time in history by an American woman. Before
her headline-grabbing performance in Boston, she ran the third-fastest time
ever by an American woman in the half marathon, 1:07:55, at the Prague Half
Marathon. Before focusing on the roads in 2016, Hasay cemented her
reputation on the track, initially making her name as a 1,500m runner. She
was a two-time Foot Locker Cross Country national champion in high school
and a 15-time All American at the University of Oregon.
"I'm thrilled to be coming back to Chicago," said Hasay. "My goal is to
target a fast time and contend for the win. As always, I know the race
organizers will set up a fantastic event and the people of Chicago will
make it a very fun day!"
The 41st annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on Sunday,
October 7. More than 40,000 runners are expected to line up in Grant Park,
cheered on by the thunderous applause of over 1 million spectators. The
iconic Chicago course will take runners on a dynamic tour through 29 of
Chicago's most vibrant neighborhoods.
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 41st year, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomes thousands
of runners from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a
world-class elite field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans,
debut marathoners and charity runners. The race's iconic course takes
runners through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and cultural
tour of Chicago. Annually, an estimated 1.7 million spectators line the
streets cheering on more than 40,000 runners from the start line to the
final stretch down Columbus Drive. As a result of the race's national and
international draw, the Chicago Marathon assists in raising millions of
dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating $282 million in
annual economic impact to its host city. The 2018 Bank of America Chicago
Marathon, a member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and
finish in Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 7. In
advance of the race, a two-day Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at
McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday, October 5, and Saturday,
October 6. For more information about the event and how to get involved, go
to chicagomarathon.com.
For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other
important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom. Click here to
register for news email alerts.
chicagomarathon.com
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