A 2008 Olympic Marathon bronze medalist, Tsegaye Kebede is one of the most accomplished and consistent marathon runners of the last decade.
He will arrive in Chicago as a major presence on the AWMM race circuit, finishing in the top 10 of 15 AWMM races since 2009, including three victories, three second-place and five third-place finishes. After being left off of the 2012 Ethiopian Olympic team, a win in Chicago could catch the eye of his national federation and help him earn a spot in Rio.
"I have great memories for Chicago,” Kebede said. “Both the battle the late Wanjiru and I had in Chicago and my victory are memories I will always carry with me."
In 2010 he battled the late Sammy Wanjiru of Kenya on the homestretch on Columbus Drive. This particular head-to-head battle is considered one of the most memorable marathon duels of all time. Kebede won the Chicago marathon in 2012 with a time of 2:04:38.