Of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon's 45,000 runners, there are 49 considered elite. Here are the top five women:

Women

Liliya Shobukhova 
Age: 35
Country: Russia
Personal Best: 2:18:20
Buzz: First athlete to win three consecutive times in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Maria Konovalova
Age:38
Country: Russia
Personal Best: 2:23:50
Buzz: Silver medalist at the 2006 European Cross Country Championships and ran at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2010 she began running marathons, winning third place that same year in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

Lucy Kabuu
Age:28
Country: Kenya
Personal Best: 2:19:34
Buzz: Debuting at the Dubai Marathon, she earned the title of the fastest debut ever by a woman, winning second place three seconds behind the first place winner.
 
Atsede Baysa
Age: 28
Country: Ethiopia
Personal Best: 2:22:04
Buzz: A long-distance runner specializing in road running events, Baysa took the silver medal at the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships, the half marathon at the 2007 All-African Games and the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.

Rita Jeptoo
Age: 31
Country: Kenya
Personal Best: 2:23:38
Buzz: After an impressive victory at her first marathon in 2004, she earned multiple titles and a bronze medal at the 2006 World Road Running Championships. This is her first Chicago marathon.