Thousands race through Chicago's Garfield Park in Bank of America 13.1 half marathon

Christian Piekos Image
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Athletes takeover West Side in Bank of America half marathon
Thousands of runners took over Chicago's West Side for the Bank of America 13.1 mile race half marathon on Sunday.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Thousands of runners took over Chicago's West Side for the Bank of America 13.1 mile challenge.

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This year organizers said 10,000 runners laced up for the race on Sunday morning.

The third annual run started and finished in Garfield Park. The course weaved through the West Side's historic parks and boulevards.

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Daniel Romanchuk earned first place of the Bank of America 13.1 wheelchair race on Sunday.

He completed the race in 43 minutes and 44 seconds.

Daniel Romanchuk earned first place of the Bank of America 13.1 wheelchair race on Sunday.

The 25-year-old is from Maryland but is training in Champaign, Illinois.

Romanchuck has won marathons in London, New York, Boston and won the Chicago marathon three times.

"I remember with my youth sports program in Baltimore, Maryland, the older generation who had aged out of the program came back and shot the next generation, not only how to play sports but what was possible in life," he said.

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Aaron Pike came in second place for the wheelchair division with just one second behind.

Peter Njeru, from Kenya, became the men's champion with a time of 1:01:46, the Bank of America Chicago Distance Series announced.

Peter Njeru became the men's champion with a time of 1:01:46 on Sunday in Garfield Park.

Following the half-marathon, there was a celebration inside Garfield Park. It featured food, live music and a variety of different sponsor tents to visit.

Bank of America President Rita Cook explains why organizers chose the West Side community to host the race.

Last year, hundreds of runners signed up to run on behalf of a charity and raised over $156,000 for different organizations.

The half marathon started at 7 a.m. The wheelchair division race started at 6:50 a.m.The course had a time limit of 3-hours and 15-minutes.

Find more information at chicago13point1.com.