Clara Santucci enters the 2014 Bank of America Chicago Marathon as the second-fastest U.S. woman in the race, and the eighth-fastest overall in the women's division.
The Pennsylvania native was the top U.S. finisher in 2013, finishing ninth overall at 2:31:29.
Santucci ran 2:29:54 in her debut long race, the 2011 Boston Marathon, but has struggled since to improve on that time.
Perhaps a familiarity with the Chicago course will help this year.
Santucci was an All-American runner at West Virginia University.
"All of the American runners have a goal of qualifying for the Olympic Trials, so that will be a good impetus to turn in some fast times," race director Carey Pinkowski said.
AP
Dan Cloeter of the Chicago Track Club won the first-ever Mayor Daley Marathon in 1977 with time of 2:23:52. Here he's pictured taking top honors again in 1979, improving his time to 2:23:20.
AP
Great Britain’s Steve Jones (#10) overcame cold temperatures and a steady downpour to set a world record time in the 1984 race, clocking in at 2:08:05.
Flickr.com/saturdave
The Chicago Marathon was put on hiatus in 1987 after a major sponsor couldn't be secured. Old Style stepped forward the next year, and the event was held on an unseasonably chilly day. American Lisa Weidenbach (2:29:17) brought home the title in the women's division.
Getty Images
New race Director Carey Pinkowski -- the youngest director of any U.S. marathon -- joined the team. His most noteworthy stamp on the race was a partnership with the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA), setting the template for the Chicago Marathon we're used to today with thousands of volunteers. Then there was the finish in the men's race, won by Mexico’s Martin Pitayo (pictured) who won by 0.3 seconds, the closest victory ever in American marathon history.
Getty Images
In 1998, for the first time in marathon history, four men with personal bests under 2:08:00 started the race. But newcomer Ondoro Osoro of Kenya stunned them all, emerging from the pack and running one of the fastest marathons in history in 2:06:54.
Getty Images
What more could you have asked for in 1999? Khalid Khannouci picked up a world record in the men's division (2:05:42), and it was a photo finish for the women as Joyce Chepchumba edged out fellow Kenyan Margaret Okayo by less than a step.
Getty Images
2007's race will always be remembered for the heat. Temperatures in the high '80s and high humidity forced race organizers to halt the race for the first time in history around three and a half hours after the official start.
2001 was the year the rabbit stole the race. Ben Kimondiu was brought in as a pacesetter for the first half of the race, but he decided to stick it out and crossed the finish line first, out-kicking heavily favored Paul Tergat.
Getty Images
2002, the 25th anniversary of the race, was memorable for a couple of major reasons. Khalid Khannouchi became the event's first four-time male champion and Paula Radcliffe set a new world record at 2:17:18 -- an incredible 89 seconds faster than the previous record.
Getty Images
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon reached a major milestone in 2010 -- more than a half million finishers crossed the line since the event’s founding in 1977.
