Brigid Kosgei wowed fans last year with a second place finish in Chicago and a new personal best, 2:20:22, the sixth fastest time ever run in the Chicago Marathon.

Name: Brigid Kosgei

Country of origin: Kenya

Standout races: Before her impressive performance last fall, Kosgei won the Houston Marathon for the second time in 2:22:14 and finished eighth in Boston in 2:31:48. She opened her 2018 season with a boom, finishing second in London in 2:20:13. Kosgei has finished first or second in seven of her eight career marathons.

More about Brigid Kosgei: She began her running career on the grass, entering the Discovery Kenya cross country competition. Her talents were recognized early on and she transitioned to the roads in 2015. She won her first marathon in a modest 2:47:59, and then stunned her competitors at the 2016 Milan City Marathon when she set a 20 minute PR, 2:27:45, easily winning in a “gun-to-tape performance.” Since then, she has been a global force to be reckoned with.