More Prominent Athletes to Join Elite Bank of America Chicago Marathon Field, Organizers Announce
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Carey Pinkowski, race director for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, talks about what’s ahead as the city begins preparing for the big 2018 event.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon just got even more exciting.
That's because organizers announced reigning Boston Marathon champion Yuki Kawauchi and 2016 Olympian Suguru Osako will both look become the first Chicago champion from Japan since 1986.
“Yuki and Suguru are exciting additions to our elite field,” Executive Race Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Carey Pinkowski said in a statement. “Yuki has taken an unconventional path to marathon stardom; there’s no other elite runner competing today like him. And Suguru is young in his marathon career with a real chance at breaking the Japanese national record in Chicago.”
Kawauchi is known to many as a "citizen runner," who fits his training and racing in around his full-time job as a government employee. He has raced more than 2- times in 2018 already, including running the Kuki Half Marathon dressed in a panda suit.
Osako is a 2016 Olympian and the Japanese record holder in the 3000m and 5000m. He competed in the 5000m and 10,000m in Rio after winning both events at Japan’s national championships, organizers said.
AP
A man holds a sign in the Chicago Marathon, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Galen Rupp of the United States speaks to the media after winning the men's race during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Jordan Hasay of the United States finishes with a time of 2:20:57 during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia wins the women's race with a time of 2:18:31 during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Galen Rupp of the United States celebrates after winning the men's race with a time of 2:09:20 during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Galen Rupp of the United States wins the men's race with a time of 2:09:20 during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Galen Rupp of the United States wins the men's race with a time of 2:09:20 during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Tatyana McFadden of the United States wins the women's wheelchair race with a time of 1:39:15 during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Marcel Hug of Switzerland celebrates after winning the men's wheelchair race during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: A detail view of the participant medals during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Runners make their way down Columbus Drive during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Runners make their way down Columbus Drive during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Runners make their way down Columbus Drive during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Runners make their way down Columbus Drive during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Runners make their way down Columbus Drive during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Runners make their way down Columbus Drive during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Runners make their way down Columbus Drive during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 08: Wheelchair racers make their way down Columbus Drive during the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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In 2017, Rupp became the first American man to win the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in more than a decade. The 2017 Chicago Marathon was only his fourth marathon ever.
"I’m so excited to be returning to Chicago to defend my title,” Rupp said in a statement. “I’d like to thank Carey and everyone at the Chicago Marathon for all the great work they do. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be heading back to the Windy City."
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Farah made headlines in the 2016 Rio Olympics when he experienced a dramatic fall, but regained his footing and ultimately won his second straight gold.
The 2018 Bank of America Chicago Marathon steps off Oct. 7.
