Thousands run in 2016 Chicago Marathon
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thousands of runners took part in the 2016 Chicago Bank of America Marathon Sunday morning.
The marathon started at about 7:30 a.m. with the course going through Streeterville, back down to the Loop, then up into Lincoln Park and Lakeview before turning around and going south, then into the West Loop, Pilsen, Chinatown, into Bronzeville before the home-stretch back into Grant Park.
More than 37,000 runners took part, coming from all over America and 100 countries.
"I'm supporting Jesse. She just flew in from China to participate in today's marathon," Lisa Woo, a supporter, said.
Abel Kirui won the men's race, with an official time of 02:11:23. Florence Kiplagat won the women's race for the second year in a row with an official time of 02:21:32.
Tatyana McFadden won the women's wheelchair division with a time of 1:42:32. The men's winner was Marcel Hug, with a time of 1:33:00.
Spectators lined the streets to cheer on the runners.
"We're Team Epilepsy and this is the first year that we have a team running in the marathon and we have seven different people running for us including my daughter," said Kurt Florian.
The race generates $254 million for Chicago and raises millions for a variety of charities.
The winners of the men's and women's races spoke at a press conference Sunday morning.
"This kind of championship run is not a problem to me. I was controlling myself so much," Kirui said.
"I just wanted to win two years in a row in Chicago," Kiplagat.
For more information on the marathon, visit www.chicagomarathon.com To look up race results, click here and to see a detailed list of street closures, click here.
