Florence Kiplagat Defends Title, Wins 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
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Defending champion talks from the finish line after winning her second consecutive Chicago Marathon.
Defending champion Florence Kiplagat has secured another Chicago Marathon victory with a first-place finish Sunday.
Kiplagat, the current world record holder in the half marathon, returned to Chicago to defend her 2015 title and she did so with ease, easily beating out her competition in the women's elite field.
"When I was coming here I was determined to win because I just wanted to win twice," she said.
After crossing the finish line, Kiplagat did a quick dance before embracing the men's winner and her training partner Abel Kirui.
"It’s wonderful, amazing," Kirui said of the pair's victories.
Florence Kiplagat celebrates after crossing the 2016 Bank of America Chicago Marathon finish line.
Kiplagat finished the event with an unofficial time of 2:21:32.
While her 2016 finish did not beat her personal best time, Kiplagat finished faster than she did in 2015, a goal she had set following last year's race. In that event, she had an unofficial time of 2:23:33.
Her personal best marathon time, 2:19:44, dates from the 2011 Berlin Marathon.
Marc Schulman
McCraney, Lacey (NBCUniversal)
Runner stops for a picture
McCraney, Lacey (NBCUniversal)
Batman in Lakeview
Zach Christman
Here's a photo of the Chicago Marathon from the start.
Zach Christman
Zach Christman
Zach Christman
Zach Christman
McCraney, Lacey (NBCUniversal)
Lake View
McCraney, Lacey (NBCUniversal)
Lakeview signs
McCraney, Lacey (NBCUniversal)
Lakeview signs
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Dog watches the Chicago Marathon in Lake View
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We found Waldo!
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We found Waldo!
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McCraney, Lacey (NBCUniversal)
Lakeview sign
McCraney, Lacey (NBCUniversal)
Go Cubs Go from Lakeview
Zach Christman
Zach Christman
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Abel Kirul of Kenya reacts after winning the men's race at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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Thousands of runners take off from Monroe street and head up Columbus Drive for the start of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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Kurt Fearnley of Australia second place winner and Marcel Hug of Switzerland first place winner in the mens wheelchair race at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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Tatyanna McFadden of the USA wins the women's wheelchair race at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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Florence Kiplagat of Kenya celebrate after winning the women's race at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Edna Kiplagat, also of Kenya, finished second, followed by Valentine Kipketer.
The first American woman to finish the race was Serena Burla of Virginia followed by Sarah Crouch of Kentucky, according to the marathon.
