The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show

Chicago Marathon 2025 Recap (Jacob Kiplimo, Hawi Feysa + Conner Mantz Crush) + Athlos NYC Thoughts + Femke Bol Moves To The 800m

Oct 13, 2025

In an exhilarating breakdown, the hosts recap the Chicago Marathon, highlighting Jacob Kiplimo's record-breaking 2:02:23 and Hawi Feysa’s 2:14:56 performance. They discuss the thrilling dynamics of the race, including the impact of a tailwind and Kiplimo's decisive mile 20 surge. With Conner Mantz setting a North American record, attention turns to the evolving American marathon landscape. Additionally, Femke Bol's upcoming transition to the 800m raises exciting possibilities for her future in athletics.

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INSIGHT

Aggressive Early Pace Shaped Chicago

Jacob Kiplimo and John Karrer pushed an aggressive early pace that made sub-2:01 talk realistic in Chicago's conditions.
The hot start and tailwind forced many athletes into unsustainable early splits and shaped the race outcome.

INSIGHT

Surge At 20 Miles Won The Race

Kiplimo's surge around mile 20 broke Carrere and secured the win despite slowing dramatically late.
Holding the lead mattered more than an even split; he managed victory and a PB in his second marathon.

ANECDOTE

Masai’s Humble Pre-Race Goal

Alex Masai told friends he aimed for sub-2:06 the day before but ended up chasing Conner Mantz and earned a podium.
His unexpected performance made him the fastest NCAA alum marathoner in history.

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What. A. Day. Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo and Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa unleashed two of the fastest marathons in history in Sunday’s Chicago Marathon. Kiplimo’s 2:02:23 makes him the seventh-fastest man ever and he did it in only his second career marathon. Feysa’s 2:14:56 announced her arrival as one of the five fastest women of all time with a perfectly paced negative split.

Behind the fireworks, storylines kept coming: Kenya’s Amos Kipruto and Alex Masai rounded out the podium, while Conner Mantz lit up home soil fans with a North American record of 2:04:43. On the women’s side, Megertu Alemu and Magdalena Shauri joined Feysa in a flurry of personal bests. It was a good day to run fast.

For more reactions and parting thoughts from Chicago, you can read our recap here. You can also catch the replay of our watchalong here.

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Hosts: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@chris_j_chavez on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ + Preet Majithia | ⁠⁠@preet_athletics on Instagram⁠⁠

Produced by: Jasmine Fehr |⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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