CHICAGO, Oct 9: Kenyan Felix Limo won the Chicago Marathon on Sunday in his debut appearance on the course, beating defending champion and compatriot Evans Rutto.
The 25-year-old Limo, who led a Kenyan clean sweep in a time of 2:07:04, won marathons in Rotterdam and Berlin in 2004.
Benjamin Maiyo was second in 2:07:11, three seconds ahead of Daniel Njenga. Rutto, who won the Chicago race in the last two years, was fourth in 2:07:30.
“This was a very tactical race,” Limo told reporters. “When I saw these guys were a little bit slow, I took the lead.”
American Deena Kastor, 32, an Olympic bronze medallist, won the women’s race, finishing in 2:21:24 for her first major marathon victory.
Defending champion Constantina Tomescu-Dita, of Romania, placed second, at 2:21:29, and Masako Chiba of Japan was third in 2:25:59.
Men’s results: 1. Felix Limo (Kenya) 2:07:04 2. Benjamin Maiyo (Kenya) 2:07:11 3. Daniel Njenga (Kenya) 2:07:14 4. Evans Rutto (Kenya) 2:07:30 5. Patrick Ivuti (Kenya) 2:07:46