FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bank of America Chicago Marathon Receives World Athletics Heritage Award
CHICAGO - The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has been awarded the World
Athletics Heritage Plaque by World Athletics. The award was announced
today, the anniversary of the inaugural race on Sunday, September 25, 1977.
The plaque is awarded for "an outstanding contribution to the worldwide
history and development of the sport".
Executive Race Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Carey
Pinkowski commented: "It is an honor to receive such a prestigious
recognition from World Athletics. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon
started as an idea and has grown into one of the greatest road races in the
world."
"Since its founding, the Chicago Marathon has been about the participants
who commit to running 26.2 miles through the heart of Chicago and the
community members and city agencies that come together to transform our
city into a world-class racing environment. This recognition is a testament
to their contributions."
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe commented: "The Chicago Marathon
has an illustrious world record history poignantly highlighted in February
this year by the tragic death of Kelvin Kiptum. The young, prodigiously
talented Kenyan had set the current men’s world record in the city last
October coming just 35 seconds short of the two-hour mark."
"A member of the World Marathon Mayors and a Platinum level World Athletics
Label Race, Chicago is a jewel in the international marathon calendar,
boasting the newly crowned Olympic champion Sifan Hassan as it’s women’s
course recordholder."
"Coupled with a marathon history in the city dating back to 1905, the
Chicago Marathon thoroughly deserves the heritage plaque which recognizes
an outstanding contribution to the history and development of road
running."
In 1976, a small band of running enthusiasts met at the Metropolitan YMCA
on LaSalle Street to discuss and plan a marathon in Chicago. This founding
group realized its vision on September 25, 1977, when it hosted 4,200 local
participants in the first Chicago Marathon.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has since expanded to more than 50,000
runners and an estimated 1.7 million on-course spectators. The flat and
fast course begins and ends in historic Grant Park, sweeping through 29
diverse and colorful neighborhoods including Lakeview, Greektown, Little
Italy, Pilsen, Chinatown and Bronzeville. The loop course and abundance of
public transportation options enable friends and family to cheer their
runners on at many locations along the course.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has a long history of hosting the
world’s fastest runners and has been the site of three men’s world records
(Steve Jones, 2:08:05, 1984; Khalid Khannouchi, 2:05:42, 1999 and Kelvin
Kiptum, 2:00:35, 2023) and three women’s world records (Catherine Ndereba,
2:18:47, 2001; Paula Radcliffe, 2:17:18, 2002 and Brigid Kosgei, 2:14:04,
2019).
Since 2002, Bank of America Chicago Marathon participants have raised more
than $322 million through the Charity Program. The Charity Program has
grown from 14 charities with 1,674 runners in 2002 to over 200 charities
with more than 16,000 runners in 2024. In 2023, charity runners raised a
record $30.4 million to fund causes ranging from healthier school
initiatives, medical research and animal assistance to foreign
aid/humanitarian efforts and assisting families of those in the armed
forces.
The 46th running of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will take place on
Sunday, October 13, 2024.
For the latest event updates, registered participants and community members
are encouraged to visit the Event FAQ which is available at
chicagomarathon.com
About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon welcomes thousands of participants
from more than 100 countries and all 50 states, including a world-class
professional field, top regional and Masters runners, race veterans, debut
marathoners and charity participants. The race’s iconic course takes
participants through 29 vibrant neighborhoods on an architectural and
cultural tour of Chicago. The 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, a
member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, will start and finish in Grant
Park on Sunday, October 13, 2024. In advance of the race, a three-day
Abbott Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention
Center on Thursday, October 10, Friday, October 11, and Saturday, October
12. 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 and register for
news email alerts.
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