Abel Kirui Wins 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

Kenya’s Abel Kirui has won the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, beating out last year’s champion Dickson Chumba in an extremely tight race.

Kirui finished the race in a little over 2 hours, barely beating out elite contender and fellow Kenyan Chumba in a matter of seconds for the first-place title.

"I was praying so hard that I get something here," he said after crossing the finish line.

Kirui's finish, followed by a brief victory dance, was the first victory for the 34-year-old in Chicago. 

Abel Kirui celebrates crossing the 2016 Chicago Marathon finish line in first place with a victory dance.

Kirui took home a silver medal in the 2012 London Games and has won the 2008 Vienna Marathon.

He had run nearly all of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, with the exception of the Chicago Marathon – until now.

"I had been deciding to do something on the soil of America," he said.

Kirui entered the race as a top contender for the win. Chumba came in second place followed by Gideo Kipketer. The first American to finish the race was Diego Estrada of Arizona, who came in eighth place, according to the marathon.

PHOTOS: The 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon

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